Liverpool 2.0: four features of Klopp’s new team

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Liverpool 2.0. Liverpool reloaded. Liverpool reinvented. Whatever the description, there is no doubt Jürgen Klopp has a new-look Liverpool team. One that has started the 2023/24 season in considerably better form than 12 months previously.

The 2022/23 season was a line in the sand for Klopp at Liverpool. His team performed miserably by their standards, while a number of long-serving trophy-winners left. Sadio Mané and Divock Origi departed in the summer of 2022, followed by Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keïta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2023.

Klopp signed Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo to strengthen his attack in the 2022/23 season, but it was clear the midfield needed an overhaul. In came Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai at the start of the 2023 summer transfer window. Job done? Not quite, because Jordan Henderson and Fabinho’s quick departures to Saudi Arabia again left Klopp short on midfield options.

Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch arrived in response, but Klopp’s Liverpool refresh hasn’t been restricted to new signings. The German coach has also adopted fresh tactical strategies, most notably inverting a full-back – usually Trent Alexander-Arnold – in-possession.

“We have a new start with this Liverpool FC reloaded – it’s an exciting thing,” said Klopp at the start of the season. It is early days for his Liverpool 2.0, with plenty of questions to be answered. What is Gravenberch’s best position? How much of an issue is the number-six position? How will the back line evolve? Finally, and most pertinently: what will this team go on to achieve?

For now, our UEFA-licensed coaches have highlighted four key aspects of Liverpool’s improved play in the early part of the 2023/24 season…

Central attacks

In every Premier League season since 2018, Liverpool have ranked in the top two for crosses. Andy Robertson and Alexander-Arnold contributed a significant number of these deliveries, overlapping from full-back. 

Henderson also provided crosses from the right, working around Mo Salah. This naturally created room for Alexander-Arnold to rotate inside – a position he took up more permanently towards the end of the 2022/23 season. From Liverpool’s left, Mané also provided crosses for Salah, and cut-backs for Firmino.

With Mané and Henderson both gone, and Alexander-Arnold operating more centrally, Liverpool have so far crossed significantly less in 2023/24. In fact, after eight games of the league season they ranked fourth-lowest for crosses. This hasn’t had a negative impact on their ability to create chances and shots on goal, however. Even with four red cards, they registered the third-most shots in the league over the same period.

In contrast to Firmino, who offered dropping movements from the front line, Darwin Núñez has provided central runs forward to accompany those of Salah and Luis Díaz (below). Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo have also been used in that central role, where both offer the link-up option so mastered by Firmino. Both look beyond more than the Brazilian did, however, as they look to test and probe opposing back lines with their movements. 

In midfield, Liverpool have operated mostly without a traditional pivot player in the mould of Fabinho. Mac Allister has filled that role (above) in the early stages of the season, at the base of a more attack-minded central midfield that looks to combine with each other and link with the narrowed front line.

Szoboszlai’s impact

Szoboszlai has been a revelation in the new season's opening salvos. The Hungarian captain's dribbling and driving forward with the ball from central midfield have both impressed. His ball-carrying has helped Klopp’s Liverpool rediscover their counter-attacking potency from midfield regains. In contrast to departed number eights Henderson, Keïta and Oxlade-Chamberlain – as well as the injured Thiago – Szoboszlai is an agile ball-carrier who can beat players with a dribble and drop of the shoulder. His eye for central passes and narrowed crosses has also helped to connect with Liverpool’s forwards during transitional moments. 

When Liverpool’s wingers drop to receive, Szoboszlai makes well-timed runs in behind (below). His ability to run at high speeds off the ball makes his movements harder to track, especially when the opposing full-back is drawn out of position.

Plus, he has the aerobic capacity to make these runs throughout the match, well into the second half. These energetic runs late in games have been particularly impressive when Liverpool have been reduced to 10 and even nine players. In these situations, with the team deploying a low block, Szoboszlai has provided a key outlet to get his team even temporarily up the field.

His energy is also vital to Liverpool’s aggressive press, both in pressing himself and covering teammates as they hunt for the ball. As a testament to Liverpool’s renewed midfield aggression, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai lead the way in defensive duels in Klopp’s team, both within an organised press and in transitional moments. 

Szoboszlai has shown an ability to stop or delay opposing counter-attacks. He can cover wide, protecting behind an advanced full-back, or press slightly higher. Here, he operates just behind the winger, pressing on to the opposing back line. 

Salah’s creative passing

Salah continues to pose a consistent goal threat, whether in creating shooting opportunities for himself or others. In previous seasons, he often created chances and assists through his explosive 1v1 dribbling. His release of the ball deep in the final third, following minimal touches, has also been a huge asset. 

This has been no different in the early part of the 2023/24 season. Now, however, Salah is adding clever passes through the lines or across the pitch to supporting runners (below). 

Díaz, Jota and Núñez have all provided penetrative movements inside Salah as he cuts inside from the right. Szoboszlai’s forward runs offer more support and take defenders away as Salah moves inside with the ball. This works to reduce opportunities for the opposition to double up defensively on Salah – a strategy that teams have inevitably used in the past to limit his attacking output. He has still been able to dribble – he ranked 16th after eight league games in 23/24 - and attack opponents 1v1. 

Alexander-Arnold narrowing into midfield for longer spells has dragged opposing left-wingers inwards, too. This has given Salah increased space to receive and drive at his opponent. He can then cut inside and work shots on goal, or use his passing range across the pitch. 

Defensive stability

Despite receiving four red cards in the opening eight league games, Liverpool have looked defensively solid. Away at Newcastle, they utilised a 4-4-1 block, with Salah as the counter-attacking threat. Klopp maintained this defensive shape with the help of well-timed substitutions, while maintaining the flexibility to move into a 4-2-3 when attacking. It was the front line, supported by the two number eights, that won them the game late on. 

Away at Tottenham, they initially maintained that same 4-4-1 structure. The energetic and versatile midfield pairing of Szoboszlai and Mac Allister individually jumped out when appropriate. With Salah again moving central as the point of the attack, Gakpo and Díaz narrowed more than usual to stop access through the inside channels. This is an area Tottenham especially focus on under Ange Postecoglou. 

Once down to nine against Spurs, Klopp changed to a 5-3 low block that featured a heavy emphasis on blocking, covering and tracking through the inside channels. An unfortunate last-kick own goal by Joël Matip eventually broke Liverpool’s resistance. Despite this, their compactness, organisation and defensive intelligence in the rare moments they broke away from the block impressed.

When they have kept 11 players on the pitch, Liverpool have pressed well. This is especially the case when the opposing structure allows Liverpool to maintain a 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 defensive shape, and go player-oriented. When the front line aggressively jumps, the number eights have backed them up in central areas. As the wingers press inwards, they have forced the ball inside and towards their three in central midfield (above). 

Where Liverpool have had a slight issue with the press is when it begins slightly deeper, and the number eights jump out before the wingers. This means the wingers are forced to narrow, and the shape becomes easier to play around. With aerially strong centre-backs, however, subsequent crosses have been mostly dealt with.

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Author: The Coaches' Voice