What followed was a long and enduring 10 years of inconsistency, bursts of hope and heartbreak, and some long stretches of mediocrity. From seeing Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers get so close to winning the Premier League to watching Roy Hodgson almost ruining the team squad to make it worse than Fulham (remember the days of Paul Konchesky?), it certainly tested the loyalty that the fans of Liverpool had with the club. This is why the win over Manchester city feels so much sweeter to the Liverpool faithful.
Resurrection
An emphatic win against the best team in the Premier league. Booking a place in the semi finals of the Champions league. Ensuring a place in the top 4 of the premier league table. Having the highest scoring premier league player in the squad. Adding reinforcements to the backline that conceded so many goals. Adding depth to the squad with youth players and relative bargains in the transfer market. Creating a cohesive unit of players that truly feel like a unit working together. Connecting with the fans with exciting performances and showing so much passion from the touchline. This is what Jurgen Klopp has accomplished with this team. And the best part is, the team has not even realized its full potential yet.
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| The Egyptian Messiah |
The home game against Manchester City was planned and executed to perfection. Utilizing Manchester City's attacking tactics to our advantage and counter attacking with the midfield and attacking trio carved up City to concede three goals in the first half. While impressive and truly breathtaking, the real test and difference maker was what followed in the second half. Liverpool were able to keep a clean sheet against the best team in England. Trent Alexander Arnold, a product of the youth academy had Manchester City forward Sane in his backpocket throughout the entire game. Andy Robertson, a player purchased for 8 million pounds was irreplaceable working with Van Dijk and Lovren. And while the first half in the second leg was somewhat shaky at times, the team held their nerve and sealed the deal in the second half largely thanks to the Egyptian messiah himself, Mohammad Salah.
This is what Jurgen Klopp has accomplished with this team. Not only is the team building up from strength to strength, but the fans of the club can feel optimistic and hold their heads high again. This is why it feels different this time around. With Brendan Rodgers, while the team did come close to winning the Premier league, what ensued was the departure of the core of the squad and a miserable follow up season that made the team take one step forward, but two steps back. Under the years of Kenny Dalglish and Roy Hodgson, it seemed like a long drag of mediocre football that made fans languish about how irrelevant the club was becoming. With Jurgen Klopp, even the departure of their best player from a season ago in Phillipe Couthinho did not stop them from improving and challenging at all fronts.
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| Jurgen Klopp |
The key difference between these eras during the last 10 years is how Klopp has ensured that the depth in the squad is diversified rather than having one player be the central node around which the squad is built. Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard were pivotal for Rafa Benitez. Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge were pivotal for Brendan Rodgers when Liverpool finished 2nd in the league. With Jurgen Klopp, it is the entire squad. Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohammad Salah, Oxlade Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson, James Milner. All these players can slot on to be an effective attacker or a supporting midfielder. This is the main difference with Klopp and it is the reason for why there is so much optimism this time around. With a strong campaign the team has had this year, there is more incentive for other players to join the team and hop on the Liverpool bandwagon.
I was skeptical or pessimistic during the previous years. When Liverpool finished second under Brendan Rodgers I was gutted and feared the team would take a step back during the following season. This is different. This time I am cautiously optimistic. Liverpool is back. They are truly back to where they belong amongst the biggest clubs in world football. And the scary part is, the best is still yet to come.
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