Command and control

Klopp's LFC have been justifiably criticised for at times not controlling games better. This is particularly glaring in cases where the team has been dominant and is usually sitting on a lead, only to lose control of the match and eventually the scoreline. Prime examples include the 2016 reversals against Southampton and Bournemouth, or the stalemates against United and City in 2017.  Add to that the latest case, against Sevilla in the Champions' League.

Would a dedicated defensive midfielder (DM) improve matters? While I think this could be the case, it does not seem to be an idea favoured by Klopp. He hasn't really signed anyone for such a task: of those who come closest to specialising in that position for LFC, Kevin Stewart was sold last summer and Lucas was played more often in defence than in the midfield. It may be that Klopp resists the inclusion of such a player in favour of a more fluid midfield, with players that are drilled to run into space and support the press by the forwards. Indeed, even Henderson - in what has been called a quarterbacking role (I resist the traditionally elegant moniker of regista as I'm not sure he has shown enough flair and composure for that yet) - appears to be getting in more advanced positions much more frequently, interchanging often with the other midfielders.

While a DM might help to break up attacks and pre-empt counterattacks before they get too dangerous, there may not be a strong need for one provided the press is working well and Liverpool enjoy better possession.  In fact, these two factors are usually the case - the team gets possession back relatively quickly, and in most games - frequently those against lesser sides - enjoys the vast majority of possession. 

When these conditions are met, it seems to me what's needed is the players better knowing how to control proceedings: when to push forward and when to dampen the tempo. The latter is not simply about passing the ball amongst your own teammates: doing so invites pressure and forces your team further back into its own half. Drawing opponents in and inviting pressure is often more high risk than playing the ball forward, though the corollary is that it opens up space behind your opponents.

It would appear that LFC's default mode is simply the first approach: when possession is won, the team almost invariably tries to spring an attack, to try to get the ball to runners in advanced positions as quickly as possible. That's great to watch and goes to the heart of why LFC can be such a formidable attacking force, but it also results in a frustratingly high number of turnovers which leave spaces that encourage the opposition to come forth again. Doing well over the course of a season and in multiple competitions requires adroit game management.

I suspect that the team is frequently only executing Klopp's instructions. Being attack-minded, his gut probably says that pursuing turnovers is the key to discombobulating the opposition and putting the game out of their reach. He's not wrong when it works, but when it doesn't - and the spotlight always burns a bit more uncomfortably when it doesn't - it raises questions about his tactics.

But if that's not the case in some games, the other question is whether LFC have the personnel to carry out such controlled play. There haven't been many examples of it under the attack-minded Klopp. It takes players who are very comfortable in possession and under pressure, particularly in midfield, as those are the players that are called upon most frequently to circulate the ball or to compensate for their counterparts flitting in and out of position. With Lallana out with injury, Can seems the best bet at the moment, though he's still rather mercurial. Henderson's mobility has seemed crimped this season compared with seasons past, and he's too in favour of one-touch plays rather than ruminating with the ball on his feet to try to draw opponents in and to open up spaces for his mates. Overall, the midfield is built for feeding a lightning offensive than for a footballing cul de sac.

This is probably where Naby Keita will fill a big gap, with his mobility, silkiness and composure on the ball. His inclusion might see Liverpool finally improving on that aspect of game management, which I believe is what separates good teams from great ones.