Jurgen Klopp’s tactics are well known at this point as they are almost their own branch of the game. What will Chelsea see over the next two matches?
Jurgen Klopp’s career hit a turning point at Dortmund. After winning over the world during the early years, his last season at the club was a disaster for him. The German side stuck with him all season, but Klopp opted to take his exit. Less than six months later, he was hired by a Liverpool side who were off to a rough start and who had just fired Brendan Rodgers.
So as far as new managers go, Klopp had a head start of over half a season. He got to analyze what he had and what he did not while getting the squad physically fit enough to compete. Last year, they reached their highest point yet. But this season feels like the moment to get all the way over the hill.
And so far, Liverpool has (mostly) lived up to the hype. They have yet to do anything but win this season, much like Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea not so long ago. The scariest part about Liverpool is that they have done so without getting out of second gear. They are not learning a new set of tactics as they beat all opponents; they just do not have to go all out to win. Chelsea must face the side back to back in what will be two difficult if not season defining fixtures.
Klopp was well known at Dortmund for setting up in a 4-2-3-1. Lacking a truly creative player in the middle, he has reverted to a 4-3-3 at Liverpool not too unlike Chelsea’s. It features the standard overlapping fullbacks and wingers cutting in towards goal. The midfield is almost all eight’s and the striker has to drop in to create space for the wingers. Nothing too complicated on that front.
Defensively and offensively is where Klopp’s style shines regardless of formation. It all starts with the gegenpress he brought to the top of the vernacular. When the ball is lost, instead of falling back, the side presses furiously in numbers. The goal is to win the ball back as the opponent is getting set up and to catch them on an unsteady foot.
The defensive press then turns into offensive quite quickly. Though Liverpool has been using possession more this season, the main thrust of their attack is and will always be getting the ball up the pitch at quickly as possible. This occurs with nearly the entire team making a run towards the box with quick cutting through balls to bypass the opponent. The perfect Liverpool goal is almost a one on one shot created by a quick counter.
If that sounds a lot like Sarrismo, that is because it is. Sarrismo sits somewhere between Klopp’s forward thinking and aggressive gegenpress and Pep Guardiola’s more patient, positional, and containing style. As such, many of the same strengths and weaknesses apply.
The sheer ferocity of the press is what often catches opponents unprepared. Even Guardiola’s Manchester City has struggled with how aggressive Liverpool can be when they lose the ball. And because many teams like to play high lines, Liverpool often find acres of space for their counters. That is why Klopp has created a sort of reputation as a top six slayer.
The weaknesses are the same as well. If a player such as Jorginho can stay calm under the press and play a pass through it, Liverpool will be in a much weaker position structurally. Chelsea could play fast balls up field and get around Liverpool while they are weakened. In addition (and this is something Sarri will not do), they struggle against teams that sit deep and deny them the space for their counters.
Chelsea gets two bites of the apple against Liverpool. In the League Cup, both sides are likely to rotate as an undercard. It will likely be difficult to take much away from that match. But the league match is the big one where both teams will go all out. The winner will likely come down to who understands the weaknesses of their own tactics the most. Because Klopp and Sarri have similar styles, if they understand what does not work about their own team they can figure it out for the other.
The matches will likely be defining for both teams’ seasons. Klopp needs to show he can still overcome a top six opponent in his pursuit of silverware. Sarri needs to show he can hang with the big dogs of the Premier League this early on. Nothing will be decided so early in the season, but just like Antonio Conte’s match against Arsenal in his first season, these matches could be seen as the point where something began.