by Liverpool have used 35 players in all competitions in an energy-draining season that demands a fight on four fronts as Jürgen Klopp aims to leave with a pot of gold. Despite the constant need to change things up, form has not been harmed as players who have come into the first team squad from near and far have transitioned seamlessly.
The midfield has been completely overhauled with the arrival of four players to complement Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, and a team of academy graduates has been started thanks to a persistently long injury list, which has meant Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson, among others, missing crucial parts of the season. Liverpool are still challenging at home and abroad.
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The next destination on Klopp’s farewell tour is the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. While United’s ongoing injury crisis is hampering Erik ten Hag’s ambitions, Liverpool are embracing the chaos. It could be argued that they should have had the upper hand against Manchester City last Sunday despite four of the five goals being second choice at best and a tough opening 20 minutes in which they conceded one of showing the best performances of a great season.
Sparta Prague were given a short spell on Thursday when Liverpool scored four times in the opening 14 minutes. Although the tie was over thanks to the 5-1 victory in the Czech Republic, Liverpool were ruthless in tearing apart their Europa League opposition. Klopp could make a triple substitution at half-time to rest players.
“Injuries have affected us a lot but two things [have helped us]: the culture of the dressing room and the structure we have put on the pitch,” said Klopp.
“We’ve developed a lot during the season – we don’t change the way we play, the boys know what to do when they come on, and when they’re not playing they train at least in the same way, so if they step on the field they know what they have to do. Not always ‘something else, something else’.
“Everything changed but we didn’t, we just played the way we wanted to play and that helped a lot. We did that from day one of the season and that made a big difference. We found a good way to play with this group of players and it’s obviously been right for the whole squad and that’s why we’re pretty consistent.”
Consistency is key in the Liverpool dressing room, where Virgil van Dijk and Salah have set standards over the past few years. The captain would like to pay tribute to the youngsters who have been called up at important moments and welcomes the opportunity to impart much needed knowledge to youngsters such as 21-year-old Jarell Quansah, who has performed to Great against City. Much of the pressure is on Van Dijk’s shoulders, knowing that it is part of his role, whether he is addressing the media after a game or giving a pep talk on the pitch.
No matter how talented Liverpool’s academy graduates are, it can be a stressful environment to be part of a squad trying to win four major competitions, but many are being cushioned by senior colleagues. Conor Bradley, 20, and Bobby Clark, 19, have looked remarkably mature and fearless since joining the squad, the latter scoring his first senior goal on Thursday, while Jayden Danns, 18, has signed a new long-term deal to sign, which ensured. Klopp’s legacy continues.
Mateusz Musialowski was the latest to make a debut, when the 20-year-old came off the bench against Sparta Prague. The Polish forward was beaming when he was called back to the bench because it’s easy to find a successful team and learn from them when they win. Even when a youngster makes a mistake, which is to be expected as the quality and pace of the opposition improves, they know they have the support of their manager, allowing them to play as they always have.
At Luke Shaw’s United, Lisandro Martínez, Casemiro and Mason Mount have missed long spells while Rasmus Højlund and Harry Maguire have been absent in recent weeks. Ten Hag said “no team can deal with so many injuries” but Liverpool are doing a good job. Although Klopp has shown faith in teenagers, it is more difficult at Ten Hag. Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have proven their worth and Willy Kambwala has shown promise, but his manager still has others to trust.
Another thing Ten Hag has to say is that not everyone can cope with the pressure that comes with being a Manchester United player. Thursday was Salah’s first club start since New Year’s Day after missing most of the first three months through injury and the Africa Cup of Nations, but others have stepped up in his unable to keep the momentum flowing, but United regularly struggled. United’s best run of four consecutive wins in the Premier League ended with a win at home to Fulham and it was no coincidence that Højlund was absent that day.
United edged Everton last weekend to boost confidence and in August 2022 produced one of their best performances in the Ten Hag’s first season in England against Liverpool at Old Trafford, to give them further hope. brought to the Cup final. “In general, it’s a really good place to go,” Klopp said of Old Trafford. “It’s real football, it’s real football or nothing, a cup competition and then in a few weeks we’ll be there again in the league. Now it’s the Cup and that day will be decided. It sounds great.”
The anticipation of any game must be like music for Klopp at the moment as the conductor can ensure that all his players will be showing the same passion on Sunday, no matter who the conductor is.
