Brilliant Klopp Will Need Time To Turn Liverpool Into Title Contenders

Better known for his opinions on horse racing, @cheltenhamnews editor, and Liverpool nut, @seanraymond delivers a passionate defence of Jurgen Klopp, following Tuesday's full-blooded critic from @andydillion70 - click here for Andy Dillon's article.

Even by today's standards of social media and click bait articles, criticism of Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool Manager this week is simply astonishing so I thought it was about time I waded into the argument in support of the German.

I don't care if your name is Sir Alex Jose Mourinho Guardiola, this Liverpool squad is not good enough to be challenging for the Premier League title. It needs major surgery over the next few transfer windows and yet we still hear and read people doubting a man who hasn't even been at the club five minutes.

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Jurgen Klopp since he arrived on his white horse into Anfield earlier this season but there is no doubt whatsoever that the popular German will already know the task on his hands as he looks to bring the glory days back to one of the most famous clubs in the world.

Stunning performances at Man City and Southampton have been mixed in with limp defeats against the likes of Newcastle and West Ham and such is football these days, that we are already starting to read critical stories about Klopp with some questioning his ability to turn this Liverpool team into title contenders.

The truth is that this Liverpool squad is a weak one in terms of balance and character and the Liverpool fans know that better than anyone which is why they are rightly prepared to give the big German plenty of time to turn the ship around.

Brendan Rodgers clearly had his moments as Liverpool gaffer but the last 18 months of his reign was a disaster and Klopp has been left to pick up the pieces and guess what, it isn't going to happen over night.

The reason why Liverpool have been so inconsistent of late is because that is exactly what a squad lacking leaders and characters tend to be at this level. The talent is there with a number of the players like Coutinho, Emre Can and Jordan Ibe but who in this current squad is going to lead by example when Liverpool go one down at a place like Watford or West Ham?

Jordan Henderson, maybe? He has spent much of this season on the treatment table though and Klopp will be desperate for his captain to get back to his best sooner rather than later as he looks for a captain on the pitch to mirror his tactics.

When Jurgen Klopp arrived at Melwood for his first training session he would have found a talented squad but a squad lacking in winners. How many of this Liverpool squad have won a major trophy during their careers?

Milner picked up some medals at Man City, Kolo Toure did likewise at City and Arsenal. Lucas, Jordan Henderson and Martin Skrtel won the League Cup with Kenny Dalglish but after that we are struggling to name a player with a single important medal to his name!,

It should also be mentioned that Klopp has been hugely unlucky with injuries since coming into the club with Sturridge (Obviously), Ings, Origi, Milner, Skrtel, Gomez, Flanagan, Coutinho, Lovren, Toure and Sakho all either having spells out, or currently on the sidelines in the last few weeks.

Klopp has been left with one striker in the form of Christian Benteke and the German gaffer is clearly yet to be convinced about the Belgian so far with the former Villa striker yet to make a major impression despite scoring a few goals. He is not the man for Klopp. The fans know it and so does the Belgian but for the time being he will have to do.

Liverpool were at their best in recent times under Rafa Bentiez when the spine of the team was rock solid and full of leaders (Reina, Hyypia, Carragher, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso and Torres) and that is simply not there at the moment which cannot be blamed on Klopp. Spurs have progressed thanks to their spine of Loris, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Deli Alli and Harry Kane this season and there is no doubt that Klopp will have noted the weaknesses through the spine of this current Liverpool squad.

Klopp was left with a weak and unbalanced squad but there is no doubt in the minds of the fans that the former Dortmund coach IS the man to turn the good ship Anfield around and any criticism of him is hugely unfair at this stage. The passion and desire he shows off the pitch fits perfectly with the club but and its fans but for goodness sake, give the man some time to bring the players in to mirror that on the pitch!

Brendan Rodgers (and the transfer committee) were given time to build a squad but ultimately failed in their task. I'm willing to bet that, given the same time and money, Jurgen Klopp will be able to take Liverpool back into the Champions League and towards the top of the Premier League table.