Talking Tactics: 3 Things Klopp Must Do To Improve Liverpool’s Results

Whenever Liverpool fans get the euphoric feeling of coming close to being the old Liverpool, they fall face first into the dust, evaporating each  bit of those hopes. They hammer City at the Etihad, but lose to Newcastle, manage to draw against West Brom by striking late and get ripped apart by Watford 3-0 away from home right after the encouraging win.

Jurgen Klopp has although, embraced the famed crest, but disappointing performances recently have clarified the fact that the win at Etihad was nothing more than a fluke. And it’s still a work in progress and patchy showings will continue until it’s all fixed up.

But, with Klopp its only a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’, when it comes to Liverpool’s rise to the top. And to quicken this process of recovery, here are three things that Klopp needs to sort out at Anfield:

1. Sort out the defense

The defense and it’s frailties has been a problem for Liverpool since a long time now after their golden period went past. No manager that followed Rafa Benitez has succeeded in fixing the defense fully and Klopp hasn’t either. With injuries currently plaguing the Liverpool backline, there is although nothing much that Klopp can do apart from playing Lucas at centre back, but as the January transfer window approaches, he must begin to look at quality centre-halves.

With Dejan Lovren injured and Martin Skrtel now supposedly out with a hamstring problem, Liverpool are left with only one out and out centre-half, Mamadou Sakho. Liverpool were forced into fielding a make-shift back line with Lucas partnering the former Lyon man, making sure that the defense looked more nervous and shaky than they’ve this season.

Fielding Emre Can, who played as a centre-half last season in a 3-4-3 system can work better than deploying Lucas in there. And snapping up a centre-half in January would be a top notch priority.

2.Get rid of the false nine system

The false nine system has become one that managers’ adhere to in times of agitations and that’s what Jurgen Klopp is doing right now. The trio of Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino struggled badly against Watford and the two games prior to it, thanks to the system and this lead to failure in carving out clear out opportunities.

Christian Benteke was brought on late and although Divock Origi was brought on for the injured Skrtel, but the fielding of a false nine formation suggests an indirect admission that Klopp’s strikers aren’t good enough. Benteke has scored crucial goals for the Reds this season and although, hasn’t quite lived up to his 32 million price tag, but what is rather guaranteed is that the Belgian would do a better job as an out and out striker than Roberto Firmino as a false nine.

3. Be active in January

Liverpool happen to be one of those Premier League sides right now, who just have to make some convincing signings to achieve their season objectives- reach the top four.

And in order to achieve that, the 9th placed Reds have to make some witty January signings. A centre-half, a quality one, would be very important considering the injury problems they’re being forced to deal with. The capture of a top notch holding midfield player, who can play just as well slightly further up the pitch would be needed too.

Above all, judging by Daniel Sturridge’s continuous injury concerns and Divock’s Origi’s on-pitch struggles, Liverpool need a mobile forward. He must be unlike Benteke, who happens to be a target man and must know how to play proper football rather than just win headers in the box and score goals.