IIt’s been a long time since the Premier League last saw a period of mind games, but Jürgen Klopp’s reaction to Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday suggested we may be on the verge of a bold new entering the era of psychological warfare.
It must be recognized that this was a far cry from Alex Ferguson’s suggestion that Leeds United could easily do it against Newcastle because they subconsciously wanted to prevent Manchester United from winning the league, and perhaps even further from José’s lurid provocations Mourinho. But what Klopp said still stood out, if only because managers these days so diligently follow the code of not saying anything negative about other teams in the Premier League.
“Arsenal are a good football team,” Klopp said when asked about the league leaders’ visit to Old Trafford. If they (United) play like today, Arsenal will win the match, I am 100% sure. I’m sorry to say that.” From one point of view it is a simple statement of fact: Liverpool had the first seventeen shots of the match; Of course they should have won. But that’s the beauty of mind games: they turn unremarkable, uncontroversial phrases into demons that haunt one side and inspire the other. By stating the obvious, Klopp simultaneously put pressure on Arsenal and, from his point of view, hopefully also gave United a kick in the ass.
At the same time, Klopp was seemingly phlegmatic despite losing leadership in the league. “I’m not very happy about it,” he said. “It’s not the best result I’ve ever seen, but I’m fine with it. You shouldn’t constantly do what we’re doing today, that won’t be enough. Absolutely not. But we know that. To the entire Liverpool community: stay calm.”
And of course that’s how he should be. There are seven games left. If there are any twists and turns in the final month and a half of the season, the manager who remains most calm and clear-headed, who continues to convey convictions, will likely be the one to prevail. The example of Kevin Keegan in 1995-1996first with his ‘I’d love it’ tirade in response to Ferguson, and then slumping over the Anfield billboards after a 4-3 defeat, always lurks as a warning.
But at the same time, Klopp must know how needlessly Liverpool dropped two points at Old Trafford. Liverpool defeated United on Sunday. They had 28 shots to 11. They won the xG 3.6 to 0.7. They should have been out of sight long before Bruno Fernandes scored from 45 yards with United’s first shot. And what’s worse, this is part of a pattern.
Liverpool have the highest total xG in the Premier League, yet have scored three fewer goals than Arsenal. With the xG they beat Manchester City at home by more than one goal, but they drew. They beat United at home by more than one goal, but they drew. It wasn’t as grim in the home game against Arsenal, but it was still a game where they were wasteful. If Liverpool don’t win the league this season they will, not unreasonably, blame the VAR error that cost them a goal at Tottenham, but when they look at the responsibility they have to take, the inability to take risks will be great in important matches. . It is perhaps not unimportant that Diogo Jota missed Sunday’s match at Old Trafford and those three important home games.
after newsletter promotion
Mohamed Salah has yet to regain his lead since returning from the injury he sustained during the Africa Cup of Nations. Without him at his best, Jota’s clinical presence is sorely missed. Part of Liverpool’s joy, the way they overwhelm teams, is the energy of Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz. There is a cheerful chaos to the way Liverpool play, a contrast to the control Arsenal and City try to exert. It’s exciting to watch and tends to overwhelm either side, as eventually happened against Brighton and Sheffield United last week after both had taken the lead.
But perhaps the flip side of that sense of chaos could be a lack of ruthlessness. Liverpool have taken 27 points this season by losing positions: that is clearly positive in terms of what it says about their character, but there must also be a question as to why they fall behind so often. How is it possible that a team that has only lost twice in the league all season has fallen behind fifteen times? Perhaps no team can consistently play at their best with Liverpool’s fury, but there are times, and that happened early in the second half on Sunday, when the intensity drops.
And that may be why Klopp has opened a new front. On the pitch it is impossibly tight at the top of the table, but Mikel Arteta has never seen such a title challenge, while the relationship between Klopp and Pep Guardiola has always been too mutually respectful to be able to jibe through the grassroots. media. An onslaught of psychological warfare adds an extra element to what is already a fascinating race.
This is an excerpt from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, the Guardian US’s weekly look at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Do you have a question for Jonathan? Email footballwithjw@theguardian.com and he will provide the best answer in a future edition