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Jurgen Klopp has done wonders at Liverpool so far. We have seen impressive progress in the league, as the Reds went from eighth to fourth in one year. There has been further improvement in the quality and depth of the team, as well as a crucial sense of spirit and togetherness within the squad.
But the best results from Klopp's progress have come in Europe. 'The Normal One' has been in charge of two European campaigns as the Liverpool manager. And Liverpool have reached the final in both of them. In 2016, Liverpool's spirit and determination took them to the Europa League final, only seven months after Klopp took over the club.
Liverpool returned to the Champions League in 2017-18, and have already made a massive impact. The Reds are in the final of the Champions League, as they are set to face Real Madrid in Kiev, on Saturday. Hopefully, this game goes differently than how Liverpool's last European final went.
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Sevilla beat Liverpool 3-1 in Basel in 2016, exposing certain weaknesses in the Liverpool side. Klopp has been busy in the transfer market, solving the problems within the team and improving the side. Will Liverpool's likely starting eleven in Kiev do better than the players who walked out in Basel? I certainly hope so.
Goalkeepers
2016: Simon Mignolet
2018: Loris Karius
The Europa League Final could have possibly been Simon Mignolet's last ever game for Liverpool. Loris Karius was brought in that summer to replace the Belgian as the new number one.
However, he got injured in pre-season and Mignolet would start the season in goal. When Karius returned, he struggled and his mistakes cost Liverpool a few points in the league. He was soon dropped in favour of Mignolet. The Belgian remained number one for a year, until Karius forced his way back in the side at the start of the year 2018.
Since then, he has shown major improvements in his game and looks certain to retain his starting place for next season. Karius has shown impressive shot-stopping ability and is good with his distribution. He looks like a keeper who Liverpool can rely upon for many years to come. On the other hand, Mignolet's Reds career appears to be over.
Verdict: Karius (1-0)
Full-backs
2016: Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno
2018: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson
In Basel, Liverpool were 1-0 ahead at half-time. Within 20 seconds of the second half, Alberto Moreno made an error which led to Sevilla's equaliser. He was at fault for the other goals as well, as the collapse led to a 3-1 defeat.
It looked likely that Moreno's Liverpool career was over. In contrast, Liverpool's current left-back is great going forward, defensively solid and has bags of energy. Andy Robertson was bought for £8 million- a real bargain buy. He seems to have solved the long-standing left-back problem at Anfield.
Nathaniel Clyne was possibly the Reds' most consistent player in 2015-16. He was very good defensively, while moderately fine in attack. He is still a Liverpool player, but he has been hampered by injury problems. 19-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold has stepped up in his place.
He has shown some great promise throughout the season and possesses all the attributes to become a future Anfield legend. However, Clyne's consistency and discipline made him one of the key players of 2015-16. Alexander-Arnold still has a lot to learn, defensively in particular.
Verdict: Andrew Robertson and Nathaniel Clyne (2-1)
Center-backs
2016: Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren
2018: Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren
The £75 million signing of Virgil van Dijk is arguably one of the biggest Liverpool transfers in recent history. His calmness, strength and leadership qualities are what is required from a top-level defender. He has improved the Liverpool defence in a very big way. Kolo Toure also had the same qualities van Dijk has currently, except for quickness.
Toure was Liverpool's best player on the pitch in Basel, but it was evident that he couldn't be a regular in the Reds defence at his age. The Dutch defender has changed the entire dynamic of the Reds' backline with his presence. This is something Toure could have done in his prime, not when he is 35-years-old.
Virgil's arrival has brought an immense amount of improvement in Dejan Lovren's game. Lovren has been really inconsistent throughout his Liverpool career but after van Dijk joined, the two have formed a solid defensive partnership and helped Liverpool to keep 17 clean sheets in the league this season.
This is their highest total since 2009. Jurgen Klopp has done a fantastic job in improving the worst part of Liverpool's team, their defence.
Verdict: Virgil van Dijk and 2018 Dejan Lovren (4-1)
Midfielders
2016: Emre Can, James Milner and Adam Lallana
2018: Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum
All the midfielders from the defeat in Basel are still in Liverpool at the moment. However, Adam Lallana is currently shrugging off his injury problems and Emre Can is on his way out, with a transfer to Juventus imminent.
James Milner is an ever-present, whose wisdom and experience is important in a team as young as the current Liverpool squad. Milner has contributed more this season than in 2016, as he broke the Champions League assists record with nine.
Can was still learning in 2015-16, but he had a great season. He won the club's Best Young Player award as well. However, the skipper has been outstanding this season. Jordan Henderson has silenced all of his critics, as he led the way on the Road to Kiev. A great resurgence from the captain has been one of the main factors in this incredible European campaign.
Lallana is a player who could very well start the final in Kiev, but Wijnaldum has the match fitness, the experience in pressure situations, and the chemistry with the other midfielders. However, he does lack a bit of creativity.
Lallana was ever-improving under Klopp, until an injury-stricken season hampered his progress this year. He would go further forward and be the creative spark, helping out in attack. If that Lallana is present on Saturday, he could be a game-changer for Liverpool.
Verdict: Jordan Henderson, 2018 James Milner and Adam Lallana (6-2)
Forwards
2016: Phillipe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino
2018: Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino
In 2016, Phillipe Coutinho was the star man for the Reds, and he played a big part in steering them to the Europa League Final. He only played half of the Reds' current European campaign, as he moved to Barcelona in January.
His silky Samba skills were instrumental on the left side of Liverpool's attack, a position adopted by Sadio Mane even before Coutinho had left. The Senegalese winger uses his pace and quick feet to get away from defenders, similar to Coutinho.
Coutinho, however, uses more flair in his game. Also, his long-range shooting ability has made him one of the best attacking midfielders in the world currently.
Leading the line for Liverpool in 2016, was Daniel Sturridge. The English striker bagged a beautiful outside-of-the-boot strike to open the scoring in Basel before Sevilla fought back. However, he wasn't the right man to lead the line for Jurgen Klopp.
Roberto Firmino, who was an attacking midfielder back then, was Klopp's new first-choice centre-forward. It seemed like a weird decision, but Firmino has flourished in the role ever since. He does more than what a regular number nine does, as his defensive work is off the charts.
Firmino is a much better and complete player right now than he was in 2016. He has added an extra amount of flair and goals to his game. He has evolved into the ideal Premier League number nine and is probably Liverpool's most important player. At least it is up for debate between Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian King signed at the start of the season and has blown every single person away. He has scored a record 32 goals in the league, and 44 in all competitions. He, along with Firmino and Mane, has taken Europe by storm.
Verdict: Phillipe Coutinho, 2018 Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah (8-3)
Conclusion
Out of the three players from 2016 that would get into Liverpool's likely starting line-up against Real Madrid, two of them are still at the club while the other one just left four months ago.
Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana have both had injury problems all season and will likely be on the bench on Saturday, while Phillipe Coutinho played a part in the Reds' group stage progress.
Overall, the squad has improved. Jurgen Klopp has gone on and either bought better players or improved the players at his disposal.
The likes of Lovren, Milner and Firmino are all at the best point of their football careers so far under Klopp, after being signed by Brendan Rodgers.
The German manager has also made some excellent investment decisions of his own, when he signed the likes of Salah, van Dijk, Mane and the rest.
Every player has stepped up and improved, which is why the current Liverpool team are in a much better place now than where they were in 201. His project at Liverpool is nowhere near complete, but this is a huge positive step in the right direction.
The Reds are certainly in a much better position to win a European final now, than they were two years ago. The Liverpool train will keep on going, and it's going to be really difficult to pull the chain.
You can tell us what you think about our analysis in the comments section below.
