Team Focus: Has Klopp Failed to Have the Desired Effect at Liverpool?

The hysteria surrounding Liverpool upon the appointment of Jurgen Klopp in October was understandable. Here was a manager revered in the game not only for his man management skills but his ability to come up trumps tactically in big matches. On both counts the German has been success at Anfield thus far, but broadly speaking Klopp has failed to have anything close to the impact on results the fans were not only hoping for, but expected.

25 games into a season in which the former Dortmund boss has taken charge of 17, Liverpool sit ninth, six points closer to the relegation zone than the top of the table. While there tends to be a bedding in period for any new manager, Klopp was appointed to arrest a run of underwhelming displays and improve results quickly. Most would say that he has achieved the former but that hasn't led to the latter coming to fruition.

Indeed, with 23 points from 17 league games, Klopp is averaging fewer than Brendan Rodgers had managed in the opening 8 matches of the season (1.35 per game down from 1.5). Liverpool have scored more goals since the new manager's arrival but conceded more too. Slipping below local rivals Everton on goal difference at the weekend brought into focus another concerning statistic.

Their goal difference is 16 worse off than that of the Toffees, whose defence has been lambasted at times despite conceding two fewer than the Reds. Liverpool are in fact on track to end the season with a negative goal difference. The last time the Merseyside giants ended a campaign with such a record goal difference wasn't even used as a qualifier to separate teams on equal points, over 50 years ago (1964/65).

In that sense there has to be a degree of sympathy and indeed lenience when looking at the team Klopp has inherited. It wasn't merely one that had endured a gradual decline but a rapid one. A goal difference of +51 from the season that Liverpool really should have won the title in 2013/14 dropped to just +4 last time out, with no secret as to why that happened.

Departures and injuries to key players in attack cost Brendan Rodgers, and Jurgen Klopp is finding it equally difficult to grind out results. Deciding to resist dipping into the transfer market last month, a complete overhaul of the squad is not only expected this summer but becoming a necessity. Until then the manager will be given a pass, but his infectious character was ultimately touted to have a far greater impact on Liverpool's success on the pitch than it has.

Having initially bought into Klopp's aggressive pressing ethos, that has unquestionably tailed off in recent months. They may have put in stellar displays against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City in the league but the intensity from those matches too often hasn't been present when the cameras are off, so to speak, this season.

The defensive mistakes that have made the club something of a laughing stock in recent years remain, now having only conceded 4 goals fewer than bottom club Aston Villa. The fact, then, that the club decided to offer the hapless Simon Mignolet a new 5-year contract must surely just have been as a measure to protect his resale value.

The Belgian has been a liability all too often at the club. Since his transfer to Liverpool Mignolet has committed more errors leading to goals than any other player (9) and while some say a good goalkeeper will win you 10 points a season, the opposite is true of those prone to making costly mistakes. Of the 22 goalkeepers to make 10 or more appearances in the Premier League this season, only Wayne Hennessey has a lower rating than the Reds' number 1 (6.41).

The current backline doesn't offer a great deal more encouragement. Dejan Lovren has progressed but at times proven to be the centre-back equivalent of his goalkeeper, Mamadou Sakho will fall under the ‘raw' category of defender until the day he retires given his cumbersome playing style and Kolo Toure is merely a Vine magnet at this stage. Klopp will no doubt be after at least two new centre-backs to go along with an upgrade in goal, competition at left-back, a third player to complete his midfield and stronger options out wide and up front. A new team, essentially.

Where the likes of Suarez and Sterling have been poached by better sides though, it's hard to see any European powerhouses circling over Anfield to swoop for a Martin Skrtel or an Adam Lallana. Klopp will not only be tasked with encouraging players to come to Anfield but also encouraging many that it would be best to move on. It promises to be a crucial period in the club's history and perhaps a defining one in terms of the German's success at the club.

Now out of the FA Cup having fielded a team of youngsters once again at West Ham, Liverpool's only chance of glory this season lays in waiting against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final. While a trophy would no doubt mask the inadequacies of the campaign to some degree, there's no getting past the fact that Liverpool, having sat just three points off a Champions League place upon Klopp's appointment, are now as close to the drop zone as they are to the top four (12 points).

BUABOOK TRADE TIP

The one player to emerge as a bright spark under Klopp in recent months has been Roberto Firmino. With 5 WhoScored.com man of the match awards to his name as well as 6 goals and 5 assists he will be confident of continuing his impressive form at bottom club Villa this weekend, so I’m a buyer in the Brazilian’s shares south of £0.40 in the upcoming match market.

How much has Klopp improved Liverpool since his appointment? Let us know in the comments below

Find all the latest updates on Liverpool in our news section here