Liverpool’s slow start scares Klopp

Three months after battling for a historic quartet, Liverpool are on the hunt for their first EFL win after three rounds, leaving their German coach Jurgen Klopp drowsy.

But a 1-2 loss on Monday to injured rivals Manchester United shows the extent of the problem Liverpool are suffering from, especially as they now find themselves behind a Red Devils team that started their career under their new manager. -Dutch. , Erik Ten Hag, losing his first two league matches, the last with a humiliating 0-4 win against Brentford.

And a slow start, the team’s worst in a decade, left Liverpool five points behind champions Manchester City after just three rounds, while they are seven points behind leaders Arsenal.

Klopp commented on his team’s presence in sixteenth place after three stages, saying: “It’s clear that it’s not the prettiest thing you can look at (position).”

What worries the German more than anything is the lack of a quick solution to the problems that caused such a slow start.

With an injury crisis hitting the team early in the season, Spaniard Thiago Alcantara, Guinean Naby Keita, Frenchman Ibrahima Konate, Cameroonian Joel Matip and Portugal’s Diogo Jota were among the players denied a move with the Reds to Old Trafford. will play opponents United.

Klopp’s side also missed out on Uruguayan rookie Darwin Nunez, who was suspended for three games due to a red card he received after being hit by Danish Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen last Monday in the second stage (1-1).

Nunes’ £64m signing from Benfica is the biggest deal Liverpool have made this summer.

Klopp’s disdain for expanding his midfield options is a growing source of frustration among Reds fans.

Without Thiago and Keita, Klopp had to rely on 36-year-old James Milner and 19-year-old Harvey Elliott to support captain Jordan Henderson in midfield during Monday’s meeting.

And Klopp admitted before the match that it would be “fantastic” to have another option in midfield.

But that’s not the only position Klopp should be concerned about, but rather Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive positioning issue, which is increasingly being looked at by opponents to try and take advantage of his advance away from their position.

As was the case with Real Madrid in the Champions League at the expense of Klopp’s men, until the league’s opening game against Fulham (2-2), Liverpool’s attack from the right was the source of United’s first goal.

Dutchman Virgil van Dijk has looked so far from his reputation as the best defender in the world over the past few weeks that he was reprimanded by Milner during Monday’s game for giving Jadon Sancho the opportunity to score United’s first goal.

In the front line, the loss of Senegalese Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich was a serious blow to Liverpool, while it was clear that Brazilian Roberto Firmino had lost strength after replacing newcomer Nunez.

A slow start seems to be common for Liverpool and one of their weaknesses as they have conceded the first goal in their last seven Premier League games, a continuation from the end of last season.

Of course, the first home defeat in the team’s last 31 matches since December last year does not cause panic.

But Manchester City and Liverpool have raised the title bar in the last five years, breaking the ninety-point barrier, which is usually enough to win the title.

To maintain this tradition, Klopp’s men should no longer waste time waking up from their sleep at the start of the season.

Source: AFP