Has Klopp moved Liverpool forward?
LFC currently sit third in the Premier League with 54 points. The Reds are two points ahead of their 2016-17 pace as well as being one position higher in the table. They have scored three goals more after 27 matches played from a year ago and have conceded three fewer.
In short, Klopp’s side has improved both offensively and defensively, if only marginally. Some clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal have taken a step back this season while Liverpool, despite their Champions League commitments, has continued to improve.
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This despite the lack of depth at centre-forward, having loaned both Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi out, and midfielder Adam Lallana being injured for most of the season. We have seen a changing of the guard at Anfield as the “Klopp-era” players have replaced their predecessors at almost every position.
Still, many people want to compare his Dortmund success with his Liverpool results. If it is to be done, it is key to note that it was in fact year three when Borussia Dortmund took the leap from being a top five Bundesliga side to becoming German Champions.
It was the summer prior to Klopp’s third season at Dortmund when the club signed additional cornerstone players Lukasz Piszczek, Shinji Kagawa, and Robert Lewandowski. Those were added to a roster which already included Sebastian Kehl, Sven Bender, Kevin Grosskreutz, Marcel Schmelzer, Mario Götze, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Roman Weidenfeller, Nuri Sahin and Mats Hummels.
To summarize, Borussia Dortmund in 2010-11 was better than Liverpool is currently (if only from a chemistry and tactical understanding perspective, not necessarily as a direct player to player comparison). Klopp needs and deserves slightly more time to complete his vision of the squad.
