Liverpool have proven themselves to be one of the most powerful attacking forces in world football over the past 12 months or so, but let’s face it, they’ve been absolutely dire at the back. Well, until now, that is.
With the sight of calamitous Ragnar Klavan and dopey Dejan Lovren lining up at centre-back early last season being enough to have many a Liverpool fan breaking out in a cold sweat, the oft-mocked Liverpool defence has now become a genuinely solid and reliable part of the team. And key to that is one man: the glorious Virgil Van Dijk.
After a premature approach for the player saw all kinds of unrest ahead of the 2017/2018 season, Jurgen Klopp wasn’t able to land the Dutchman until this past January. And since marking his debut with a goal against bitter rivals Everton, Van Dijk has gone from strength to strength.
While VDV’s calmness under pressure and his ability to start play from the back is obvious, another of his main traits is that he has a huge influence on those around him. Showcasing his leadership skills, Van Dijk is always able to rally those around him, to use his calm presence to relax his teammates, and is similarly prepared to bark orders when necessary.
Unfortunately for their rivals, Liverpool’s defence is no longer the laughing stock it once was – to the extent where Virgil Van Dijk is even able to make Dejan Lovren look like a relatively competent footballer!
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp can be found rampantly parading along the touchline as he feels every pass, tackle, header, and shot that’s being seen on the pitch in front of him.
For those who dislike Liverpool, there was an audible groan when it was revealed that Klopp would be taking up residence in the Anfield dugout. That groan? That was one of begrudging admittance that, yes, this could prove to be a masterstroke and a move that sees Liverpool return to their former glory.
Looking at the black and white facts of it all, though, the German has yet to bring any sort of silverware to Anfield. In the modern game, so often a manager is judged on the trophies that are listed on his CV, yet Klopp has managed to win favour with many despite having a reputation of so often being second-best – having lost an FA Cup final, a Europa League final, and a Champions League final during his time at Liverpool.
What Klopp has on his side, however, is that his players all love to play for him. His enthusiasm and passion are unmatched, and it’s those traits that constantly have players lining up to play under Klopp. Following the disappointment of the 2017/2018 season for Liverpool, many managers might have struggled to get their players to bounce back and push on in the following campaign. For Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, that’s not the case. And if anything, it looks as if the Reds will only be going from strength to strength while Klopp remains at the helm.