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Jurgen Klopp happier for Liverpool to draw against Chelsea than win because he had long-term plans in mind

Wins from luck - or individual brilliance - are not necessarily sustainable 

Miguel Delaney
Chief Football Writer
Thursday 02 February 2017 08:19 GMT
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Klopp would rather a good performance rather than winning without knowing how
Klopp would rather a good performance rather than winning without knowing how

In the charged atmosphere of Anfield on Tuesday, Jurgen Klopp said something rather conspicuous, but it wasn’t to the fourth official.

It was actually when he was a bit more relaxed, and talking about the consequence of his side’s 1-1 with Chelsea.

“I say it again a few times, I really prefer a draw like this, with a good performance, rather than three points when I have no idea why we got them.”

It was a comment that sounds very similar to statements on stalemates that have come from managers like Van Gaal, Roberto Martinez and Klopp’s predecessor Brendan Rodgers. It is also the kind of comment that they have often been pilloried for, as if they prize the theory of the process over the reality of results.

That is somewhat unfair, especially in Klopp’s case. Far from saying something that should be considered outlandish, the German was instead touching on what remains one of football’s fundamental dilemmas: the decision over whether to adapt in the short-term, at the potential cost of the long-term; whether what you do to get a result now says much for how regularly you can get results in the future.

Of course, any win is good for confidence, and will in itself build trust in what the manager is trying to do. The point, however, is that if those wins are coming from lucky means, or mere individuals temporarily rising above the inefficiency of the system to produce something special, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sustainable.

Klopp’s point made perfect sense from that perspective.

One of the major problems for Liverpool throughout a miserable month of January, after all, has been that the life has gone from their game; that they’ve been sapped of energy; that they’ve stopped being - as Klopp himself put it - “fun”. Given the amount of emphasis on the German’s physical demands and how fatigued Liverpool looked, it also seemed like it could be a serious problem for what had been such a promising season.

Those worries began to evaporate on Tuesday in the sheer heat of the home team's attacking, especially with the way they came from behind against the runaway leaders, and almost won it late on.

Klopp had a conspicuous comment about that too. He said his side showed “readiness”, “passion”, “greed”.

That was precisely why this was promising, even if Liverpool didn’t get the win that their title challenge really required. It no longer feels like it was the win that their hopes for the season - and the optimism around Anfield - really required.

This at least emphasised that a return to the football of the first half of the season should be imminent, and should be someway lasting.

It’s also possible that, after that nightmare month where their only win was over League Two Plymouth Argyle, things could fall their way for the next few months.

Mane offers Klopp a different option in attack 

For one, they only have 15 games left, and all of them in the league. That is obviously going to suit a relatively short squad who could supposedly prone to fatigue.

Similarly, they will finally have their first-choice attack back for the first time since November. Sadio Mane will be back, Philippe Coutinho now looks back to full fitness.

Their absence has often caused Klopp to reshuffle the frontline in a way that hasn’t been ideal. Those close to the squad say that while the German really likes Divock Origi, the feeling is that Roberto Firmino currently works much better as a false nine, an area he has been taken away from late.

It is not just the shape of the attack that has been altered, though, but also how it can move. Mane really does offer a different dimension, a different angle of approach. It is usually a very acute angle of approach, because of how his sudden bursts of pace surprise an opposition defence, and give the more blunt force of Klopp’s pressing a more cutting penetration.

That is the idea that the Liverpool manager feels will much more regularly give his side three points. That was why the Chelsea game was so encouraging - even if they didn't win.

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