Premier League 18-19: 5 reasons why Liverpool’s season will be a success irrespective of what happens in May

Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool FC - Premier League

#5. A manager open to adapt

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Liverpool FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
Liverpool FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League

In football, as in other walks of life, those who do not adapt to newer ideas, changing behaviours, evolving realities – witness with disgruntlement as their best days are moved from their future to their past. Jose Mourinho is a recent example of that – it seems that modern football management has passed him by, although he is still young enough to catch up.

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This, however, is a mistake which Jürgen Klopp has been – so far at least – smart enough to avoid. In 2016, when United signed Pogba, Klopp now (in)famously quipped– "Other clubs can go out and spend more money, I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend that money." And yet in 2018, he broke the world record fees for both a centre back and a goalkeeper.

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People who call him a hypocrite for this, miss the point. It was not that he made those comments in 2016 to take a stab at United. In all likelihood, he would have genuinely felt that sentiment at that time.

But by 2018 he was smart enough and probably even brave enough to acknowledge that the reality of club football had changed. If he had to deliver CL football consistently, he needed to adapt and buy top class reinforcements rather than wait for younger players to develop.

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Also this season, he has chosen to forgo his trademark ‘Gegenpress’style in favour of a more balanced approach which makes the defence less vulnerable and is less exhausting for the players in general. These are clear signs of a pragmatic manager, who is also astute enough to sense the progress the squad has made and to keep on building on it.

So despite all the chanting from rival fans, it seems Jürgen & Liverpool FC will be just fine.

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Edited by Kaushal Raj
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