The Kopite View

Liverpool stormed into the group stages of the Champions League on Tuesday night after blitzing Hoffenheim at Anfield in the first twenty minutes to take an unassailable 3-0 lead before eventually running out 4-2 winners on the night and an aggregate 6-3 win.

It was an impressive start by Liverpool that overwhelmed the Germans, a high tempo pressing game combined with some superb passing and movement put the tie to bed inside the first twenty minutes.

But Hoffenheim helped Liverpool with their tactics, they continued to play with a high defensive line at Anfield, tactical suicide against a Liverpool side with so much pace in attack.

Mane, Salah and Firmino enjoyed the space given to get behind the German’s defence on numerous occasions, Hoffenheim’s tactics certainly helped the game become an entertaining spectacle with their own intentions of attack that caused Liverpool more than a few problems.

But how many teams are going to come to Anfield this season and play with the tactics Hoffenhiem deployed ?

Not many, it doesn’t matter if Liverpool are playing in Europe or in the Premier League, not many teams are going to make the game as open as Hoffenheim did the other night.

Teams will come to Anfield and sit deep like Crystal Palace did last Saturday and try to frustrate Liverpool’s attack and try and hit on the break like we saw many times last season, and apart from Liverpool counter-attacking, Mane and Salah’s pace will be nullified with little space to work in.

Can, Wijnaldum and even Henderson were all pushing forward against Hoffenheim but Liverpool were still vulnerable when they lost possession with too many men forward and it didn’t help with Moreno ignorant to the fact that he is a left-back.

It is a totally different game when teams come and park the bus and Liverpool’s midfield of Can, Wijnaldum and Henderson don’t have the creativity to unlock well disciplined, deep-lying defences.

This is why Liverpool must hold on to Coutinho now because it is too late in the transfer window to find a replacement, he is the only player that can open up packed defences with his ability.

Liverpool will destroy teams that come to Anfield with the same approach as Hoffenheim but don’t expect to see too many being brave enough.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are heading into arguably their most important 2 weeks in charge of the Anfield club.

With only a League Cup win to celebrate during their reign of one of Europe’s most successful clubs, the pressure is on Liverpool’s American owners to take the club to the next level.

Supporters are losing patience despite the club’s improvement both on and off the park.

Anfield’s impressive new main stand is an excellent addition to Liverpool’s famous ground allowing more speactators to support the team as well as providing extra revenue.

On the field, FSG made an excellent signing by capturing Jurgen Klopp to take charge of the team, when many clubs in Europe were showing an interest in the German.

Klopp led Liverpool to a top 4 place in the Premier League and Champions League qualification.

But Liverpool supporters have been left frustrated this summer with few additions to Klopp’s threadbare squad and with the return of European football to Anfield this season, the worry is that the squad will struggle with the extra games.

The improvements in the last season raised expectations that FSG would take Liverpool to the next level this summer and make them genuine challengers both in the Premier League and in Europe.

But apart from the few signings made at this time of writing, the most important issue for FSG looks like maintaining the sevices of their star player Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool’s owners seem intent on keeping Coutinho but whether he stays or goes, it pains me to say that there are more important issues needing resolved that will require FSG spending money and bringing in quality players.

Another centre back remains a priority for Liverpool’s defence and a holding midfielder but with time running out this transfer window, it is looking less likely of happening.

If Coutinho finally leaves for Barcelona, then Liverpool will need a player similar to his style too, so it will be interesting to see how the next 2 weeks pan-out regarding Liverpool’s transfer window, but if Coutinho leaves and nobody is signed then FSG will need to answer a lot of questions from the fans because they have been starved of success for too long.

Liverpool’s season has already started with a 3-3 draw away to Watford and a 2-1 win away to Hoffenheim in the first-leg of their Champions League qualifier, and from a Liverpool supporter’s point of view, there are many problems that are still to be solved.

It has been a quiet summer regarding transfer activity, where the need to strengthen Liverpool’s squad looked obvious with the extra games they will have to play this season with the inclusion of European competition.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has added Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke to his squad this summer, but his squad still looks a bit threadbare.

Liverpool have already picked up a few injuries before the season kicked-off, with Nathaniel Clyne, Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana amongst the more notable casualties.

The likely departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona will leave a massive void because he is one of the few players in Liverpool’s squad that can provide the creativity and defence splitting passes.

Liverpool’s defence is still a major worry and the three goals conceded against Watford proved that there are still defensive problems and they were quite fortunate to only concede one goal in Germany on Tuesday night.

Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk has been talked about all summer as the man to solve Liverpool’s defensive problems but it doesn’t look like he will be coming to Anfield and unless they sign another centre-back then their defensive woes will continue.

Alberto Moreno’s return to left-back doesn’t fill supporters with much confidence either, and surely Andy Robertson will get his chance at left-back sooner rather than later.

Emre Can, Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum are all good players in their own right but the evidence of their performances playing together in Liverpool’s first two games is worrying, the midfield didn’t look balanced with that trio.

Surely it is Klopp’s decision to go into the new season with the squad he has, but you can’t help thinking that his hands may be tied by his American owners regarding the lack of spending.

Time will tell if Liverpool’s squad is strong enough to challenge in the both the Premier League and Europe this season.