Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah, Jordan Henderson
Injury problems and an ageing team, Sadio Mane gone and some worrying running stats. What is the story at Liverpool? Here, we take a look at the challenges facing Jurgen Klopp after their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford
“It is a game where it was 100 per cent clear what United would do,” said Jurgen Klopp. “Were they more aggressive than us at the beginning? Probably, yes. It was exactly the game that United wanted to play.”
There was a time when Liverpool used to play with that intensity but not right now. The defeat to Manchester United means they have failed to win any of their first three Premier League games of the season for the first time in a decade.
The previous two were not lost – in fact, the previous 21 were not lost – but there is a trend emerging. Liverpool have now conceded the first goal in their last seven Premier League games. Slow starts have become a feature for Klopp’s team.
He has long since evolved away from the heavy-metal football that was the hallmark of his early years. Liverpool are much more of a possession team now – the stats show that. But it was still jarring to see them so passive at Old Trafford. To see the biter bit.
“They were not at the races at all,” Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. “United were outstanding, but Liverpool were not ready for a derby game. They did not look ready for the game and that will worry Jurgen Klopp right now.”
United made 118 more high-intensity runs than Liverpool on Monday evening, covering 3.1 kilometres more ground. It was unusual to see United show such energy but Liverpool supporters are becoming accustomed to seeing their side hurried.
Crystal Palace also outran them by three kilometres. Fulham covered almost seven kilometres more on the opening weekend as Liverpool ran less there than in any of their Premier League games last season. Fulham made 426 more high-intensity runs.
