How Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool influence helped Arne Slot to title success

Success in the form of silverware had proved elusive.

Liverpool had achieved an impressive 97 points in 2018-2019 and, even though that would have won them the league title in most other seasons, they were pipped to the top-flight crown by a point by Manchester City.

The Reds had also been beaten in the League Cup final and Europa League final in 2016, as well as the 2018 Champions League final.

However, the work Klopp had done with his players was eventually rewarded when he won the first trophy of his Liverpool reign with a 2-0 victory against Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League final.

The club’s journey to that trophy embodied the tactics, emotion and thrilling football that was Klopp’s hallmark, and one which Slot has refined rather than revolutionised.

“The idea is to press the opponent, don’t allow them to get into the game,” said Krawietz. “They do on the pitch what we allow them to do, being dominant already without having the ball, and then – the moment we win the ball – the first idea is, win it high on the pitch and attack the goal.

“We had to adapt over time. It was constantly learning without changing our basic ideas until the end.”

He added: “We, as the managing staff, were convinced about our way.

“We had to convince the players as well and then, the next step is to convince the people around, turning doubters into believers.”

Krawietz admitted Klopp’s gameplan could be “wild” but “was part of the plan”, and there was no better evidence of it in action than their 2019 Champions League semi-final against Lionel Messi’s Barcelona.

The Reds looked down and out after losing the first leg 3-0 at the Nou Camp, before what turned out to be one of the most memorable comebacks in Champions League history.

“Right after the first game, there was a very decisive moment in the dressing room because Jurgen stood up and said, ‘hey, gentlemen, this game is not over yet. We have half-time. Yes, we are 3-0 down, but we are Liverpool and we play next week in our stadium’,” said Krawietz.

“For us, football is always playing football as well with your heart.

“All the strategy, all the tactics, all the instructions you give to them but, giving the team the possibility to feel the game and the energy of a stadium, the support of each other and bringing the crowd into the game as well in home games, which is possible at Anfield, we knew it and this is what we tried to develop.”