This was precisely the type of game where I should avoid commenting in the post match thread. The sheer anger I had at the fact that we didn't turn up against probably the worst united team in decades definitely coloured the posting of myself and a great number of people on here.
But having had two days to attempt to digest the result, it's becoming a lot clearer what Klopp is doing. We battered them, and pretty effectively too, with a team that admittedly was largely first teamers but which was still decimated by injury. Our team also didn't cost anywhere near as much as United's - some scant comfort can be drawn from the fact that while we haven't exactly been amazing in the transfer market recently, United have been fucking awful. The Ģ59M spent on Di Maria must rank as one of the worst bits of transfer business in history, yet we still get battered for spending Ģ15M on Balotelli or Ģ35M on Andy Carroll, both players who have proven they can stomach the Premier League, albeit not at Liverpool.
A club like United should, under normal circumstances, give us a test. It's just that they were so fucking bad, and yet did the smash and grab, that hurts the most. The temptation to blame a player (Mignolet) for their goal is all the more tempting, even though really there was little he could have done - it would have been a world class save from that distance under those circumstances to stop that shot. If Rooney had scored after 20 or 30 minutes, we wouldn't be having the discussion - at 80 minutes, you knew the game was pretty much up. We could blame the defenders, but in reality it was their one brainfart moment that got us punished - until that point Sakho and Toure had them in their fucking pockets. Toure especially had a wonderful game, and by and large is treating us to a nice swansong (I'd be tempted to give him another year, just to have a senior pro around the club). Let's not forget Sakho is still coming back from injury, and with Lovren due back soon will form a cohesive unit that we can build upon.
Something we can build upon. It's what this season will be judged as, the foundations for Klopp's reinvention of the club. With the players currently being picked and the positions they are occupying, it is becoming clear where Klopp is heading with the squad. Firmino, for example, is clearly being shaped for either a direct centre forward or false 9 role. He's missing his mate at the moment (as did we on Sunday), but he's continuing to grow into the club. A solid, hard Klopp pre-season will shape this boy next year, mark my words. We'll only see glimpses of Boberto this year, next year I expect him to cause teams some serious problems. Another is Emre Can: guilty again on Sunday of indecision and delaying passes when players were clear, but who is still only 22!! He's already given us enough to get excited about, and but for the width of a post would have had us out of our seats in joy. Clyne also caused plenty of trouble, and Lucas was just, well, Lucas. If he'd chinned Sideshow Bob I wouldn't have complained. His fire and experience of these fixtures over the best part of a decade is invaluable experience for a young and new squad.
There is a spine there, which will be further complemented by the likes of Grujic and (if he comes) Matip. But outwith that group, there are players who should rightly be casting nervous glances over their shoulders. Adam Lallana is on borrowed time in my eyes; barring the occasional (and I mean occasional) assist he contributes virtually nothing, and at Ģ26M is slowly finding himself involved in the previously-mentioned 'biggest waste of money' category occupied by the likes of Di Maria, Balotelli and Carroll. While you can say that someone like Emre Can can have distribution and timing of passes trained into him over a pre-season, Lallana is a seasoned pro who is 28 in May and should be entering his peak. His dithering, indecisive and nervous manner on the ball is starting to drive me bananas - I can recall at least two occasions on Sunday where a quick pass would have set players in on goal. instead he twatted around with the ball, endlessly dribbling, confused and seemingly unable to pick out a pass. I'm sick of the Cruyff turns Adam, give us an end product or you'll be gone in the summer. Another is Benteke, who it appears is going to either fulfill the role of super sub or chuck the big guy up top when we're chasing a game. Without a top class crosser he is utterly wasted in this team - perhaps Klopp might just have one of these guys on his shopping list this summer, who can say?
The final player who I think may find himself in a fight for a starting place is Jordan Henderson. A controversial choice, I know, but a point worth making. We have always had success when we've had goals coming from midfield - historically we have had the likes of Souness, Whelan, Alonso and of course Gerrard. Lads who will come up with a goal when you need one. I'm not convinced Jordan has it in him - 23 club goals in 8 professional seasons is not a record you can call upon when you're chasing a game a la Olympiakos in 2004 or West Ham in 2006. Of course, comparisons to Gerrard are perhaps a little cruel, but then he is the club captain. Maybe he is struggling with this persistent injury, maybe he's lost a bit of direction. But I think it's important for Jordan to have competition in there, and to know that even though he's club captain, it doesn't necessarily mean he's first name on the team sheet. It will hopefully inspire him to become the player we all want him to be, and at 25 he does very much have time on his side. If anyone can help him achieve it, Klopp can.
All in all this game was a bit of a watershed moment, a line in the sand. Klopp was gutted after match because he lives it as much as we do. I'd be annoyed if he wasn't upset. He's a winner after all. But make no mistake, the future will be bright under Jurgen. He might not get the star names some of the fan base are desperately craving, but then no one had heard of Marco Reus, Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze either...