Liverpool 2018/19

[SquishyMcSquish]

i don't see how another manager other then Klopp would have made Pool this good, not even Guardiola as he needs money.

Already been said but Klopp has spent a fortune getting Liverpool where they are. That is not an inexpensive squad he currently boasts, it's one of the costliest in the league.

Not that this negates the fact he's doing a fantastic job, because regardless of spending he clearly is. I think only people with blinkers on could argue that he's not a very good coach.

 

[Klopper76]

Before this calendar year I think Klopp's spending's been rather modest compared to what City and United had been spending.

He's at a point now where that's not an excuse any more based on the last two transfer windows. He's got his squad and he should be delivering something shiny (other than Firmino's teeth) come May.

It's not a sack-able offence for me if he doesn't but he'll rightly be criticized if we end up empty-handed again.

 

[Alex99]

Before this calendar year I think Klopp's spending's been rather modest compared to what City and United had been spending.

He's at a point now where that's not an excuse any more based on the last two transfer windows. He's got his squad and he should be delivering something shiny (other than Firmino's teeth) come May.

It's not a sack-able offence for me if he doesn't but he'll rightly be criticized if we end up empty-handed again.

It's just something that I find a bit odd. Going into this season especially, he's spent tons, but people still pretend like he's on Dortmund levels of investment. The same's often true for Pep mind. The obscene amounts are only highlighted when the signings don't pay off, which is why Mourinho is being criticised so heavily at the moment.

 

[RobinLFC]

It's not a sack-able offence for me if he doesn't but he'll rightly be criticized if we end up empty-handed again.

So you'll criticize him if we get 90 points and end up second?

 

[Can23]

Already been said but Klopp has spent a fortune getting Liverpool where they are. That is not an inexpensive squad he currently boasts, it's one of the costliest in the league.

Not that this negates the fact he's doing a fantastic job, because regardless of spending he clearly is. I think only people with blinkers on could argue that he's not a very good coach.

He realised to get to City's level you have to spend. Look at Spurs had a golden opportunity past few years to invest and improve an already fantastic squad and challenge for major honours and cement themselves as one of the best of the top 6 whilst the usual top 6 haven't been their best. I believe you've missed that opportunity now, Vertonghan with a year left, Eriksen not signing a contract, Alderweireld also at the end of his contract and Lloris looking like he's regressed massively.

You're in need of a spending spree as well, it's not good enough just to have a good first team you need top quality on the bench just as City have.

 

[Alex99]

So you'll criticize him if we get 90 points and end up second?

I reckon that depends a great deal on what happens tonight.

2nd with 90 points (presumably putting you pretty close to whoever wins the league) but having crashed out of the CL in the group stage a season after reaching the final isn't really progress, it's just switching priorities.

I reckon 90 points wins you the league though. One (or both) of you and City is dropping off at some point I think. They've had the first wobble after the Chelsea game on the weekend, so if you're still top after you play them at the turn of the year, then it's well and truly in your hands.

 

[Tommy]

I reckon that depends a great deal on what happens tonight.

2nd with 90 points (presumably putting you pretty close to whoever wins the league) but having crashed out of the CL in the group stage a season after reaching the final isn't really progress, it's just switching priorities.

I reckon 90 points wins you the league though. One (or both) of you and City is dropping off at some point I think. They've had the first wobble after the Chelsea game on the weekend, so if you're still top after you play them at the turn of the year, then it's well and truly in your hands.

Falling out of the CL now means we can all but write off the league I reckon.

 

[Alex99]

Falling out of the CL now means we can all but write off the league I reckon.

I don't know really. You're already out of the League Cup, you'll probably feck the FA Cup off again because Klopp seems to have a severe allergy of the 5th round, and you could easily feck the Europa League off too. City are still going on all fronts. Getting a sniff of CL success especially will alter priorities somewhat for them, and if you're within touching distance, you could capitalise on it.

Of course the alternative of that is your players' heads dropping and your form suffering.

 

[Klopper76]

So you'll criticize him if we get 90 points and end up second?

Depends what we do in the FA Cup/Europe.

Add the FA Cup to a 2nd placed finish and it looks pretty good. Eventually he does need to start winning some silverware.

 

[Tommy]

I don't know really. You're already out of the League Cup, you'll probably feck the FA Cup off again because Klopp seems to have a severe allergy of the 5th round, and you could easily feck the Europa League off too. City are still going on all fronts. Getting a sniff of CL success especially will alter priorities somewhat for them, and if you're within touching distance, you could capitalise on it.

Of course the alternative of that is your players' heads dropping and your form suffering.

I don't think the fans would accept us sacrificing the Europa League right off the bat if we were to fall into it, and even if it's just 2/4 games on a Thursday night, that could have severe repercussions.

That said, Sky/BT love our TV money, so we'd at least get some Monday games, I reckon.

 

[adexkola]

Before this calendar year I think Klopp's spending's been rather modest compared to what City and United had been spending.

He's at a point now where that's not an excuse any more based on the last two transfer windows. He's got his squad and he should be delivering something shiny (other than Firmino's teeth) come May.

It's not a sack-able offence for me if he doesn't but he'll rightly be criticized if we end up empty-handed again.

It would be ridiculous to criticize Klopp for a season where he gets over 90 points and makes it far in the CL, even if Liverpool end up trophyless.

 

[Alex99]

It would be ridiculous to criticize Klopp for a season where he gets over 90 points and makes it far in the CL, even if Liverpool end up trophyless.

To be fair he didn't bring up the 90 points thing, just that not winning anything would draw criticism.

 

[MouChou]

Klopp's hardly been working on a shoestring. He broke the world transfer records for goalkeepers and defenders with Alisson and van Dijk, spent £150 million strengthening the midfield, and £90 million on their forward line. All signs point to the spending continuing too.

People act like Klopp's barely spent, when he's spent shit loads.

But that's also not the whole truth isn't it?
It's only now that he has convinced everyone at his club that he is the right man to take them to glory, that they are backing him fully. His first seasons he barely spent/was allowed to spend much...
Here are the numbers I found:

2016/17 Summer Window
Sadio Mane - £30 million
Georginio Wijnaldum - £25 million
Loris Karius - 4,7 million
Ragnar Klavan - 4,2 million
Joel Matip - £0,-
Total Spending = £64 million
Winter Window: No activities.
Key Players Sold: None.
End of season standing - 4th place

2017/18 Summer Window
Oxlade-Chamberlain - £35 million
Mohammed Salah - £34 million
Andy Robertson - £8 million
Total Spending = £77 million
Winter Window: It was only at this point where liverpool started to spend big. It also coincides with them selling their best player at that time (Coutinho) for £142 million... Coincidence?
Virgil van Dijk - £75 million
Total Season Spendings = £152 million
Key Players Sold: Philippe Coutinho - £142 million
End of season standing - 4th place
CL - Final

2018/19: Comming from the back of another top 4 finish and most importantly a very strong showing in the CL which culminated with a final appearance, their owners seem to have been convinced that the time to open the chequebook has come...
Alisson Becker - £56 million
Naby Keita - £52,5 million
Fabinho - £40 million
Xherdan Shaqiri - £13,5 million
Total Spending = £162 million
Key Players Sold: Emre Can - £0,-
Table standing - 1st (currently)
CL (group stage) - 3rd (currently)

I think if you look at the whole picture he has done very well with them and seems to progress every year. But of course trophies are needed now that this is his 3rd full year, he knows that himself.

First real test comes tonight, lets see if he can manage to outfox Mr. Champions League himself, Don Carlo.

 

[Klopper76]

I think it's also worth pointing out where we were when he took over. We were miles away from the top four let alone a title challenge.

He's definitely done a lot of very good work at Liverpool.

 

[vkd]

Looking from a strictly simple financial POV.

When Jurgen Klopp became our manager our squad was valued in transfermarkt at around £297m.

It now stands comfortably at £821m with a net investment of around £120m and that is not counting

£40m we'll receive from clauses in the Coutinho transfer almost certainly. We also got a lot of dosh from our deep runs in EL and CL that are making a mockery of our owners real investment.

Klopp is now basically our golden goose and our owners want his babies daily.

 

[breakout67]

i don't see how another manager other then Klopp would have made Pool this good, not even Guardiola as he needs money.

Liverpool have £100m of midfield talent warming the bench for god's sake.

 

[Paolo Di Canio]

Then dropping into the Europa League & playing Thursday night away games in Eastern Europe is the last thing we need. This isn't just about staying in the CL, but giving ourselves the best chance in the PL also.

Surely you will be favourites for the Europa if you do end up there & a european tropy would be a good kickstart for you guys in the future as you havent won a trophy in a long time. Now you have a bigger squad you should be able to cope

 

[Tommy]

Surely you will be favourites for the Europa if you do end up there & a european tropy would be a good kickstart for you guys in the future as you havent won a trophy in a long time. Now you have a bigger squad you should be able to cope

There's some crazy teams already in the EL & some big teams dropping down from the CL. Hell, could have Arsenal/Spurs/Chelsea/Liverpool all in it by the end of the night, and that alone is scary enough!

 

[Buchan]

They love a long ball, don’t they?

Hoof. Hoof. Hoof.

 

[J_XO]

Famous atmosphere

 

[Tommy]

I was really impressed with Wijnaldum tonight. Think he deserves a bit of love.

 

[PGLFC91]

I keep saying it. 90% of football management is having good players.

Jurgen Klopp has spent big and bought quality. Alisson and Van Dijk have brought us to being one of the strongest teams defensively in Europe!

 

[RobinLFC]

Matip has gone to the hospital for tests on a shoulder injury.

If he’s out, we’re stuck with Lovren at CB and I genuinely don’t know who’d play there if he inevitably gets injured as well.

 

[Tommy]

Matip has gone to the hospital for tests on a shoulder injury.

If he’s out, we’re stuck with Lovren at CB and I genuinely don’t know who’d play there if he inevitably gets injured as well.

Klavan? Oh right he left >.< Honestly, probably Milner

 

[hellohello]

Does anyone know why Salah wasn't celebrating? He didn't do it last game either right?

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

Klopp has done an amazing job. Not sure any other manager in world football would have been able to turn the club around the way he has. We were in absolute disarray with a genuinely mid table squad when he walked through the door.

I'd put him and Pep in their own bracket.

Does anyone know why Salah wasn't celebrating? He didn't do it last game either right?

Hasn't celebrated all season. Seemingly frustrated that he isn't scoring even more goals/performing at last season's levels.

 

[hellohello]

Klopp has done an amazing job. Not sure any other manager in world football would have been able to turn the club around the way he has.



Hasn't celebrated all season. Seemingly frustrated that he isn't scoring even more goals/performing at last season's levels.

Hmm, okay. I guess it's not that important, but a little strange to me.

And I agree, Klopp has done an amazing job with Liverpool, very impressed him.

 

[Congus]

Does anyone know why Salah wasn't celebrating? He didn't do it last game either right?

Maybe he's waiting for goal 45 before he celebrates.

 

[Briman63]

I keep saying it. 90% of football management is having good players.

Jurgen Klopp has spent big and bought quality. Alisson and Van Dijk have brought us to being one of the strongest teams defensively in Europe!

We are the strongest team defensively in Europe

 

[Liver_bird]

Matip can never stay fit.

 

[Red00012]

Liverpool looked shaky when Napoli attacked them 2nd half , if only Jose had tactics where we expose weaknesses.

 

[Needham]

Liverpool are doomed to succeed in something very major very soon I fear. Hold on to your hats, it's going to be a lot worse than 2005 when they were plucky comeback merchants and a squad packed with deadwood. And I reckon Klopp is much more inclined to stay there a decade than Pep is with City.

 

[hasanejaz88]

Mane is such an average player, would've cost them had Alisson not made that fantastic save. He should be the next one Liverpool need to replace if they want to beat City in the League and also win in Europe.

 

[Josh 76]

Surely they have to win something soon. One major trophy in 30 years is a disgrace for one of the "biggest" clubs in the world. It's the worst record in world football compared to other "big" clubs.

I've always said they are in the title race when others were saying it's a one horse race and last year I was saying they will win the champions league after they beat Porto. (Thankfully I was wrong).

I've been accussed of being a Liverpool fan on here, which is so far from the truth. I hate them more than anyone, but you have to give credit where it's due.

 

[B20]

Top of the league. through in Europe after a great crunch night at Anfield. Virgil van dijk.

It's a good Christmas season so far.

 

[rzoroLFC]

Surely they have to win something soon. One major trophy in 30 years is a disgrace for one of the "biggest" clubs in the world. It's the worst record in world football compared to other "big" clubs.

I've always said they are in the title race when others were saying it's a one horse race and last year I was saying they will win the champions league after they beat Porto. (Thankfully I was wrong).

I've been accussed of being a Liverpool fan on here, which is so far from the truth. I hate them more than anyone, but you have to give credit where it's due.

We don't HAVE to win something this season. Sure of course we would like to but the main thing is that we are improving with every season. If we didn't win anything of course we'll be gutted but klopp's job wouldn't be under threat as he's done a brilliant job. He's well loved by the fans and owners.

 

[Josh 76]

We don't HAVE to win something this season. Sure of course we would like to but the main thing is that we are improving with every season. If we didn't win anything of course we'll be gutted but klopp's job wouldn't be under threat as he's done a brilliant job. He's well loved by the fans and owners.

No team has to win anything this season. But it would be nice for alot of fans of other clubs, except Liverpool. You guys are so brain washed with being the nice guys, that you are missing that football is about winning trophies and not about the net spend cup or top 4 trophy.

 

[B20]

No team has to win anything this season. But it would be nice for alot of fans of other clubs, except Liverpool. You guys are so brain washed with being the nice guys, that you are missing that football is about winning trophies and not about the net spend cup or top 4 trophy.

This is an odd form of goading. Whether we win anything or not this season there is no doubt that Klopp is our best chance of winning them in the future.

Sorry we're not in a hurry to mindlessly demand that there must be consequences and sack him without any regard for the reality of the situation and blithely assume sacking the manager is the only logical solution to any given problem. That's more your shtick than ours, innit?

 

[Rouge McDuck]

No team has to win anything this season. But it would be nice for alot of fans of other clubs, except Liverpool. You guys are so brain washed with being the nice guys, that you are missing that football is about winning trophies and not about the net spend cup or top 4 trophy.

Make no mistake, there is a rampant desire to win trophies - the league specifically. I'm fecking desperate for Liverpool to win the league. What we can't do is say that the minimum standard for Klopp to keep his job is for Liverpool to win the league of European Cup. He has taken the club from 13th when he took over, to the top of the table today, to multiple finals. We haven't won. We hate this a lot more than anybody else. It sucks. But getting rid of Klopp, who is the only reason we're now challenging again and acting like a big club again, would be small time thinking. We will win something eventually. But the league has City in it. Being unbeaten after 16, with only a few draws, should leave us many points adrift at the top and looking like we're walking the league. Except City are a point behind and we still have to play them and they'll probably have a sustained period of wins now. Sacking Klopp would be something that destroyed us. We want to win. Klopp shouldn't have to win to keep his job, in my opinion. I mean, where would we go from there? Rebuild for another four years. No trophies? Sack him. Rebuild again. There's a reason we haven't won the league in so long, and that's a big part of it.

 

[Josh 76]

Make no mistake, there is a rampant desire to win trophies - the league specifically. I'm fecking desperate for Liverpool to win the league. What we can't do is say that the minimum standard for Klopp to keep his job is for Liverpool to win the league of European Cup. He has taken the club from 13th when he took over, to the top of the table today, to multiple finals. We haven't won. We hate this a lot more than anybody else. It sucks. But getting rid of Klopp, who is the only reason we're now challenging again and acting like a big club again, would be small time thinking. We will win something eventually. But the league has City in it. Being unbeaten after 16, with only a few draws, should leave us many points adrift at the top and looking like we're walking the league. Except City are a point behind and we still have to play them and they'll probably have a sustained period of wins now. Sacking Klopp would be something that destroyed us. We want to win. Klopp shouldn't have to win to keep his job, in my opinion. I mean, where would we go from there? Rebuild for another four years. No trophies? Sack him. Rebuild again. There's a reason we haven't won the league in so long, and that's a big part of it.

Sacking Klopp? I didn't even mention it. All is said was it was about time you won a major honour , as wining one big trophy in 30 years is a disgrace for one of the 'biggest' clubs in the world.
You fans are happy with Klopp, I get it. But relax and enjoy the ride.
Will be interesting to see how you guys will remember him in a few years time if he doesn't win anything. Maybe like Roy Evans? Or Benitez?