The German adage tells Jurgen Klopp his Liverpool life won’t be all “peace and pancakes.”
Klopp suffered his first defeat as Liverpool manager Sunday, as the Reds fell 2-1 to Crystal Palace. The Premier League loss ended Liverpool’s three-game winning and six-game unbeaten runs.
Klopp admitted last week he hasn’t had time to reflect on the first month of his Anfield tenure. “So far, so good” — our words, not his — aptly describes the game-packed, 21-day period leading up to Crystal Palace’s visit, but Liverpool reversed course in game seven and day 22.
Crystal Palace has the Premier League’s second-best road record in 2015. Alan Pardew’s group beat Liverpool with a prototypical plan for Anfield visitors: start fast, press high and hard, use speed on the wings to create danger and defend resolutely.
Crystal Palace started quickly in both halves, preventing Liverpool from overrunning the visitors and matching the crowd’s energy. Instead, that familiar sense of vulnerability prevailed, as Liverpool failed to convert its best chances. Liverpool then conceded a soft goal after 20 minutes, clawed one back before halftime but gave away another in the last 10 minutes of the game. Had Liverpool put more than four of its 22 shots on goal or Mamadou Sakho played all 90 minutes — the center back limped out of the game off with a knee injury after 40 — the plot would have played out differently.
Instead, Klopp’s Reds must spend two weeks digesting questions about their first loss in 13 games. Klopp described it Sunday as an “unnecessary” defeat.
Klopp now must work to reinstill the mindset required to play at his desired level for 90 minutes into his players. He won’t be starting fresh in this regard, but he might have to revisit old lessons in order to push his team over the psychological hump that caused performances to lag before his arrival.
Sakho’s injury will force Dejan Lovren back into the starting 11, regardless of his confidence level. Liverpool has shut out only one of its last nine opponents, and Lovren has been on the bench most of that time because of his own struggles earlier this season.
Daniel Sturridge could return from a knee injury soon and sharpen Liverpool’s attack. Then again, his injury problems could persist through the fall.
Jordan Henderson’s return from a broken foot will add balance and drive to the midfield. But the club captain might not return in time for the next test. The same goes for James Milner, who missed the Crystal Palace game with a hamstring injury.
Liverpool sits 10th in the Premier League standings, and a trip to league leader Manchester City beckons after the international break. Liverpool would have liked to visit the Etihad Stadium full of momentum, but that won’t be the case.
Klopp’s Reds are nearing the end of that brutal stretch of seven difficult road games. Just Manchester City and Southampton remain.
The Reds have a strong foundation and a promising future, but they must do a lot of work to improve in all facets of the game if they are to be in contention for a top-four finish by the start of the festive period.
Liverpool-Crystal Palace Wrap: Reds’ first Klopp-era loss >>
Thumbnail photo via LiverpoolFC.com
