Jurgen Klopp should follow examples set by Pep Guardiola

Enrique told BestGamblingSites that amidst Liverpool’s recent poor form, there is a growing sentiment among fans and pundits that Klopp should take inspiration from Guardiola and adapt his tactics to turn things around. Despite Liverpool’s dominance in recent seasons, their current position in the Premier League table, trailing Manchester City by 16 points, suggests a need for change.

While injuries have contributed to their struggles, it’s clear that Klopp needs to reassess his tactics and approach. Klopp and Guardiola’s rivalry built on mutual respect serves as a prime example of how managers can learn from one another, and it’s essential that Klopp takes this opportunity to revaluate his tactics and lead Liverpool to victory once again.

By analysing Guardiola’s strategies in these areas, we can identify ways for Klopp to evolve his approach and lead Liverpool back to the top of English football.

To this end, we will examine areas where Klopp can learn from Guardiola, including the significance of the midfield, tactical flexibility, and the importance of squad depth.

Klopp and Guardiola – A Rivalry Built on Mutual Respect

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have been two of the most successful football managers in the world over the past decade. The two coaches have developed a rivalry built on mutual respect, and their teams, Liverpool and Manchester City, have consistently been at the forefront of English football in recent years.

However, with Liverpool’s recent poor form, many fans and pundits are suggesting that Klopp should take a leaf out of Guardiola’s book and adapt his tactics in order to get back to winning ways.

Adapting Tactics – The Importance of Flexibility

One area where Klopp could learn from Guardiola is in his approach to tactics. Guardiola has become known for his tactical flexibility, often making changes to his team’s formation or personnel to suit the opposition. This has been particularly evident in Manchester City’s recent success, with the team often lining up in different formations, such as a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3, depending on the opponent.

Klopp, on the other hand, has been accused of being somewhat inflexible in his tactical approach. Liverpool has largely played in a 4-3-3 formation, with a high press and a focus on quick transitions to attack. However, as opposition teams have become more adept at dealing with this style, Liverpool has struggled to break them down.

The Significance of the Midfield – Finding the Right Balance

Another area where Guardiola has excelled is in the midfield. Manchester City’s midfield has been the engine room of the team, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Rodri providing the link between defence and attack. Guardiola has been able to find the right balance in midfield, with players who are able to contribute to both attacking and defensive play.

Klopp, on the other hand, has struggled to find the right balance in his midfield. Liverpool has been hit hard by injuries to key players such as Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, and Fabinho, and this has disrupted the team’s rhythm.

The midfield has often been overrun in recent games, leaving the defence exposed and the attack without the necessary service.

The Importance of Squad Depth – Learning from Guardiola’s Approach

One area where Guardiola has excelled is in the depth of his squad. Manchester City has a plethora of talent in every position, with multiple players who are capable of playing in different positions. This has allowed Guardiola to rotate his squad regularly, keeping his players fresh and motivated. This has been particularly important this season, with the fixture schedule more congested than ever before.

In contrast, Liverpool’s squad depth has been tested this season, particularly in defence. The team has been hit hard by injuries to key defenders such as Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip, and this has forced Klopp to play midfielders such as Henderson and Fabinho in defence.

Klopp Must Adapt to Succeed

Jurgen Klopp is one of the most successful managers in Liverpool’s history, and he has been instrumental in leading the team to their recent triumphs. However, in order to get Liverpool back to winning ways, he must be willing to adapt his tactics and approach. Guardiola has shown that tactical flexibility, a strong midfield, and a deep squad can lead to success, and Klopp must follow his example if he wants to take Liverpool back to the top of English football.

Klopp has already shown that he is willing to make changes to his team, but he must be more proactive in doing so. He must be more flexible in his tactical approach, and be willing to switch things up during games in order to take advantage of the opposition’s weaknesses.

Klopp must find the right balance in his midfield, with players who can contribute both defensively and offensively.

He must also develop a deeper squad, with more players who can contribute when the team is hit by injuries or when the fixture schedule becomes congested.

Photo from Pexels

Leeds ace Wilfried Gnonto tipped to thrive under Gracia

Presenter Conor McGilligan has backed Leeds United sensation Wilfried Gnonto to thrive under the management of Javi Gracia.

What will Javi Gracia bring to Leeds United?

Gracia has been appointed as the replacement for Jesse Marsch, who was sacked at the start of this month with Leeds hurtling towards the relegation zone.

Last seen in the Premier League with Watford, who the Spaniard managed to an 11th-place finish as well as reaching the FA Cup final, Gracia had since landed an unsuccessful role at Valencia before a brief stint at Al-Sadd in Qatar.

McGilligan believes he is someone who could bring more tactical flexibility to Elland Road than his predecessor, pointing out that Gnonto could find similar success under the coach as winger Gerard Deulofeu did at Watford.

Speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan drew comparisons in style between the two players, and highlighted the fact that Deulofeu played his best football under Gracia.

He said: “He can move to a 4-3-3, a 3-5-2, a 4-2-2-2 – very, very flexible. And I keep touching on Deulofeu, and the reason I keep touching on Deulofeu – obviously formerly of Everton and Barcelona before he went to Watford – was because this [under Gracia] was the best football he played in his career.

“And this is what I see for someone like Willy Gnonto in terms of a style of player who has excellent balance, can use both feet, is very tricky, [has] a low centre of gravity, and someone who I am comparing to Deulofeu.

“Gracia said in 2018 when Deulofeu came back from injury, ‘I am happy to move to a 4-3-3, Gerard gives us the option to do this,’ so it does give you that indication that he would move from different tactics, which is great to see that we’re not just going to be so reliant on one way of playing, which we have done previously.”

Could Javi Gracia unlock the Leeds attack?

With the likes of Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra in the Leeds ranks, there is potential for the attack to be transformed in a similar way Watford’s was under Gracia, with one of the wide players perhaps playing up front alongside Patrick Bamford or Georginio Rutter.

Leeds have scored 28 times in 23 league games, which is the most in the bottom six by some margin, highlighting the potential of their squad to explode in attack if given the right structure, and if Gnonto can become a creative force similar to Deulofeu, Leeds may have a much better chance of survival.

Deulofeu scored 13 times and provided eight assists under Gracia, which included a stunner to send Watford to the FA Cup final, and it could be argued that Gracia helped the Spaniard unlock his flair and creative potential by being flexible with his tactics.

The appointment of Gracia, although far from a well-managed situation, could turn out to be a masterstroke if he is able to quickly increase the output from the players at his disposal, though whether Gnonto can flourish under his guidance remains to be seen.

Liverpool predicted XI vs Wolves

Liverpool will host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield this evening in their Premier League clash and Jurgen Klopp could look to the depth in his squad to improve upon the dull display at Selhurst Park last weekend.

The Reds left south London with a point but the overall performance in the stalemate result should be a massive wake-up call for the manager and the players in their efforts to climb the table to earn a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four over the remaining 15 league fixtures.

Despite losing to Wolves in the league already this season, Liverpool have only lost twice in their last 20 home league fixtures against the Midlands club and have won three of their last four league games at Anfield, so it puts Klopp’s side in a good position to snatch all three points from the meeting tonight.

In terms of injuries, Calvin Ramsay, Luis Diaz, Thiago Alcantara and Joe Gomez are ruled out of the clash, however, the side has been given a big boost with Ibrahima Konate expected to return as an option in the back-line whilst Arthur Melo has been working hard with the U21s to finally earn a starting spot.

The biggest boost is the return of Darwin Nunez, with the Liverpool boss confirming in his pre-match press conference that the Uruguayan striker may be available for selection:

“Darwin trained yesterday with us. Let’s see if it’s good enough for being part of the squad.”

What could Liverpool’s XI look like against Wolves?

Alisson Becker (GK), Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB), Ibrahima Konate (CB), Virgil van Dijk (CB), Andy Robertson (LB), Fabinho (CDM), Stefan Bajcetic (LCM), Jordan Henderson (RCM), Mohammed Salah (RW), Darwin Nunez (ST), Diogo Jota (LW).

We predict that Klopp could make four changes to the starting side that drew with Palace – retaining his classic 4-3-3 formation in the meeting with Julen Lopetegui’s side.

The first change we expect to see is in the defensive set up with Konate replacing Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk in the centre-back partnership, whilst Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson retain their roles in the wider positions.

Indeed, Gomez endured a “nightmare” v Madrid last week – as per Canadian journalist Demar Grant – and thus shouldn’t be in contention for another start.

The second and third change we predict is a shuffle in the centre of the pitch with Stefan Bajcetic and Fabinho joining club captain Jordan Henderson in midfield with Naby Keita and James Milner left on the bench.

Bajcetic – hailed an “exceptional talent” by presenter Roopa Vyas – was left out of the starting line up at the weekend and there is no doubt his youthful energy was sorely missed, so getting him back into the midfield three could give Liverpool a big boost.

Our fourth and final expected change is Nunez’s return to the striker role to replace Cody Gakpo in the attacking threat alongside Mohammed Salah and Diogo Jota.

A crucial three points this evening will help Liverpool further close the gap with Tottenham Hotspur inside the top four and would put them six points adrift, so changing up the team could be the perfect way for Klopp to bring his team back to life and could considerably improve upon the performance last weekend.

Everton had a howler on Yerry Mina

Everton’s penchant over the last few years for spending vast amounts of money on players who simply haven’t performed on the pitch is staggering.

The likes of Theo Walcott, Allan, Moise Kean and Andre Gomes all arrived at Goodison Park to much fanfare and were expected to take the club to the next level, however, it didn’t work out like that.

All these players have subsequently left without leaving a positive mark, yet there is one big-money signing who is still at the Toffees yet has struggled to live up to the hype upon his arrival – Yerry Mina.

How much is Yerry Mina worth now?

The Colombian defender joined the Merseyside club having enjoyed a fantastic World Cup in 2018, where he became the first defender to score in his first three matches in the competition, although his country were knocked out by England at the last 16 stage.

Everton had seen enough to splash out £27.2m to sign him from Barcelona ahead of the 2018/2019 season and given his credentials, he looked as though he could become a rock at the heart of the club’s defence over the next few years.

It was a shaky start, with Mina playing just 13 Premier League matches in his debut season, missing 33 games in total due to a variety of injuries.

29 and 24 league appearances followed in his next two campaigns, however, since the beginning of 2021/2022, Mina has featured just 18 times across all competitions and thus has seen his value plummet.

According to Football Transfers, Mina is now worth just €12.8m (£11m) with that marking a massive drop from the near £30m the Toffees spent on him over four years ago.

Add the fact that he is earning £120k-per-week and it’s clear that his minimal contributions recently are draining money from the club which could be spent elsewhere and Sean Dyche may look to move him on this summer.

Noel Whelan criticised the player late last year, saying “on most days, he looks average” and with his contract expiring in a few months, he could well find his days numbered at Everton.

It hasn’t worked out for the 28-year-old at Everton, and his high transfer fee plus total wages may well have been utilised on other players who could have made a much bigger impact. Note this one down in the nightmare segment of Farhad Moshiri’s notebook.

Takehiro Tomiyasu shines at left-back for Arsenal in Europe

A number of Arsenal fans online have all praised the substitute cameo made by Takehiro Tomiyasu last night in the Europa League as he came on and impressed at left-back.

What’s the latest on Takehiro Tomiyasu at Arsenal?

The Gunners faced Sporting CP away from home in the first leg of their last-16 European match this week and found things pretty awkward in Portugal.
Indeed, even though they took the lead thanks to William Saliba, they were pulled back level just 12 minutes later when Goncalo Inacio headed in from a corner.
Then Sporting actually took the lead through Paulinho in the second half and it took a huge slice of luck when Granit Xhaka’s pass deflected off Hidemasa Morita and into the back of the net to draw Arsenal level at 2-2.
With Kieran Tierney absent through illness, Tomiyasu was asked to come on at left-back for the last 27 minutes and he really helped steady the ship for Mikel Arteta’s men.
As per SofaScore, he finished the game with a 7.3 match rating (the best of any substitute from either team). What’s more, he also made one interception, won one tackle, won five out of five ground duels and two out of three aerial duels, and also pulled off one key pass and completed three out of three successful dribbles.

Clearly, he had a pretty impressive cameo and it’s safe to say the Arsenal fans enjoyed seeing him fill in at left-back. Here are some of the best responses online…
[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/_philcosta/status/1633908357756010499?s=46&t=hH2NiXoN5Q53lPpbpDhPRA[/EMBED_TWITTER]
[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/ltarsenal/status/1633930184188473348[/EMBED_TWITTER]
[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/Fragiie_Millz/status/1633930163372032003[/EMBED_TWITTER]
[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/Cgancgan/status/1633930005188165633[/EMBED_TWITTER]
[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/trickyreds14/status/1633937317458235393[/EMBED_TWITTER]
[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/goonernumber31/status/1633937505543176192[/EMBED_TWITTER]
[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/lolgoil/status/1633939280396468224[/EMBED_TWITTER]

Rangers: Alfredo Morelos signs pre-contract agreement

Glasgow Rangers are set to miss out on a significant financial windfall as Alfredo Morelos has reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement with another club.

The Lowdown: Out of contract

Morelos is out of contract this summer, meaning that he can leave Ibrox as a free agent.

There have reportedly been talks over a new deal, but the striker has not put pen to paper on one as of yet.

The Latest: Signed with Sevilla…

According to Vamos Mi Sevilla, Morelos has signed a pre-contract agreement with Sevilla, and has ‘already committed’ to the club.

The report cites that he has a market value of €10m (£8.8m), which Rangers are set to miss out on by losing him on a free transfer.

The Verdict: Big loss

Morelos will be a big loss to the Gers, both financially and in terms of what he offers to the team.

The Colombia international has found a rich vein of form under Michael Beale, scoring seven goals and making a further four assists in 16 games in total over all competitions so far (Transfermarkt).

He has been such a Scottish Premiership title in the 2020/21 season.

Nonetheless, not even bringing in a transfer fee for the 26-year-old will hurt even more, making Morelos an even more difficult player to replace this summer.

Chelsea must sign Brahim Diaz

Chelsea manager Graham Potter is considering a swoop for AC Milan loanee Brahim Diaz, who could reportedly become available in the summer following three seasons in Serie A.

What's the latest on Brahim Diaz to Chelsea?

According to a recent report from The Sun, the Blues and Newcastle United are set to battle it out for the former Manchester City youngster, with both outfits viewing the Spaniard as an ideal suitor to bolster the respective ranks.

Despite having plied his trade in Italy since 2019, Diaz is on the books at La Liga giants Real Madrid, and though the holding Serie A champions have a £19.5m buy option in his loan contract, Real's demand for a buyback clause could put a spanner in the works.

As such, the likes of Chelsea will feel confident in enticing the 23-year-old with a package, where he could play a pivotal role in cementing the frontal fluidity amid the new era at the outfit, with owner Todd Boehly taking over one year ago.

Who could Diaz replace at Chelsea?

During his time with the Rossoneri, Diaz has played 110 matches, scoring 16 goals and ten assists and providing his outfit with a versatile attacking outlet, capable of flourishing across any role in the frontline.

As per FBref, the £29m-rated ace ranks among the top 17% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe's big five leagues for progressive passes, the top 28% for progressive carries and the top 21% for successful take-ons, illustrating his promising foundation that could be nurtured at Stamford Bridge.

While imperfect, the transitional and combative aura to his abilities suits Potter's system to a tee; robust, tenacious and unflinching in his dynamic role – remarked to be "extremely difficult to stop" by Bruno Alemany.

Hakim Ziyech in action for Chelsea.

This season, Diaz has plundered five goals and two assists from 25 starts across all competitions, averaging his highest average league rating, via Sofascore, for the outfit at 6.84 and averaging one shot and 1.3 key passes per game, creating eight big chances and completing an average of 82% of his passes, impressive considering the relentless pace of his forward-focussed role.

With a swoop, Chelsea could finally ditch Hakim Ziyech and rest assured knowing a tailor-made replacement could take his stead.

Ziyech was subject to a January bid from French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, though a move was scuppered by the late submission of important documents on deadline day.

Given the Moroccan has only started on six occasions in the Premier League this term, registering one assist and scoring no goals, it looks certain that space will free up in the squad this summer, with Diaz boasting the perfect skill set to replace the 30-year-old, who himself ranks among the top 6% of positional peers for progressive passes and the top 28% for progressive carries.

The winds of change are howling in west London, and despite Ziyech's solid servitude since his £33m move from Ajax in 2020, the younger, more vibrant Diaz could be the perfect option to continue the growth and instil a newfound mentality at Chelsea.

Chelsea: Slonina could be a dream Meslier alternative

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing up Leeds United's Illan Meslier as their long-term option in between the sticks but Graham Potter may already have his Kepa heir in 18-year-old Gabriel Slonina.

Could Chelsea sign Meslier?

According to Football Insider, the Blues have joined the race to sign the 23-year-old Frenchman, who has also been linked to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

The Leeds shot-stopper became the youngest-ever goalkeeper to make 100 Premier League appearances in last weekend's win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, which will no doubt enhance his reputation further after a strong few seasons with the Yorkshire outfit.

Meslier has consistently averaged above a 6.6/10 rating from WhoScored during his time with Leeds but has also shipped 189 goals in 119 appearances for the club, keeping just 30 clean sheets.

illan-meslier-chelsea-transfer-leeds-united-graham-potter-premier-league

Therefore, it would be something of a risk for Chelsea to spend big on another young goalkeeper who, like Kepa, seems to have a "mistake" in him, with Ben Foster critical of the Frenchman after his role in Seamus Coleman's winning goal in the 1-0 defeat against Everton recently.

Potter should instead look towards Chelsea's summer signing Slonina, with the former Chicago Fire shot-stopper arriving at Stamford Bridge with a big reputation after his performances in MLS.

Who is Gabriel Slonina?

Chelsea would sign the teenage 'keeper in the summer of 2022 before sending him back on loan to Chicago Fire for the rest of the year, with the 18-year-old officially moving to west London at the start of this year.

Slonina already has 41 senior appearances under his belt for Chicago Fire, where he would concede 61 goals and keep an impressive 16 clean sheets.

He has certainly caught the eye in his Premier League 2 appearances since returning to Chelsea, conceding just once in his four appearances thus far, keeping three clean sheets.

The 6 foot 4 teen has already made his senior debut for the USA national side, becoming the youngest-ever goalkeeper to do so, which suggests that he could have a very bright future at Stamford Bridge.

Slonina's agent, Jaime Garcia, was full of praise for the young goalkeeper in the summer with top clubs circling for his signature.

Garcia said: "He's worked very hard, he is an unbelievable person and player as well, but the person is remarkable. I've only met a few people who work as hard as he does. He's a very smart and courageous young man."

Therefore, Chelsea should avoid spending millions on Meslier and instead focus on the development of a top young goalkeeper in Slonina.

Arsenal Could Sign "World Class" £80m Leader This Summer

Arsenal already have a squad clearly capable of winning the Premier League. As they enter their final ten games of the season, they sit eight points clear of their nearest rivals, as Mikel Arteta closes in on his ultimate prize.

The Spaniard is owed a lot of praise for his work in forging this outfit, taking no prisoners as he uprooted experienced members of the squad and replaced them with youth, all of whom seem hungry for success.

Whether they see it out or not, there is a need to keep evolving in this game where it has arguably never been more difficult to win the elite honours. Manchester City will forever spend to maintain a regular title charge, whilst Liverpool can never be discounted. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Chelsea are overseeing expensive rebuilds which could also see them return to the mix soon.

The Gunners cannot afford to stand still, especially when the core of their squad could soon require a refresh. With Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey aged 30 and 29 respectively, they are soon to be entering their twilight years.

Arteta needs a new set of enforcers to replace their ageing stalwarts, but they must retain that silky skillset that allows them to uphold their free-flowing philosophy.

With this criteria, it is no surprise to therefore see them once again linked with West Ham United captain Declan Rice.

How much is Declan Rice worth?

It was only late last week when journalist Simon Phillips suggested that the north London outfit led the race for the 24-year-old, as he told GIVEMESPORT: "A lot can happen in the next two months until the end of the season. That one could go either way, but Arsenal feel like they're in the lead for that at the moment."

The Times also reported back in January that they had made Rice their top summer target, despite the £80m fee demanded, as this actually represents something of a bargain compared to the British transfer record David Moyes threatened; this truly seems like a deal destined to happen.

Especially when it makes this much sense.

Partey is imperative for Arsenal, with his defensive work in the engine room key in protecting their back four. As such, he maintains 2.3 tackles and one interception per game, alongside an 87% pass accuracy. The Ghanaian also marries this with the occasional screamer, of which he has three this season, via Sofascore.

thomas-partey-arsenal-transfer-declan-rice

Now compared to Rice, it is clear why Arteta remains so keen. He also records 2.2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per 90, yet brings that pass accuracy up to an impressive 89%. This is partnered with four goal contributions too, as per Sofascore.

Their similarities are striking, and his role in dictating the play for the Hammers has seen him branded a "midfield maestro" by journalist Josh Holland.

However, this compliment was blown out of the water by fellow writer Jai McIntosh, who simply wrote: "Imagine thinking Declan Rice isn’t world-class."

This potential deal would further revolutionise a squad already bursting with talent, and make them even more dangerous on all fronts for many years to come. The fact that he is young and English helps the cause too, as he only adds to their impressive statistics as the youngest average squad in the league.

Rangers Chasing South Korean Sensation

Ross Wilson is eyeing a swoop for South Korean midfielder In-beom Hwang as he aims to strengthen Glasgow Rangers ahead of 2023/2024.

What’s the latest on In-beom Hwang to Glasgow Rangers?

According to Football Insider, Rangers have registered an interest in Hwang and the club have scouted the player on numerous occasions during his spell at Olympiacos.

He only joined the Greek side last year from Rubin Kazan and with a contract running until 2025, the Ibrox side may have to splash the cash in order to sign the midfielder this summer.

Could Ryan Jack leave Rangers this summer?

The Scot has been reinvigorated under Michael Beale, starting 11 matches and looking like he is finally back to his best.

His contract expires at the end of the current campaign and despite Football Insider claiming that the Gers are planning to offer him a new contract, there could still be a possibility that he leaves during the summer and this may have to be planned for.

Hwang could be the ideal alternative to the 31-year-old, especially due to his performances for the Greek side this term.

Across 33 appearances since arriving last summer, the 5 foot 9 midfielder has registered eight goal contributions – four goals and four assists – while achieving a Sofascore rating of 7.14/10, ranking as the club’s sixth-best player this season.

He also ranks first in the squad for accurate passes per game (61.1), fourth for assists (four) and fifth for big chances created (three), suggesting he is not only an important member of the team having just joined a few months ago, but he could add an extra attacking dynamic to the Rangers’ midfield.

The 26-year-old – who journalist Konstantinos Lianos lauded as a "top, top player" – also impressed at the World Cup last year, playing all four matches for South Korea as they were eliminated at the last 16 stage by Brazil and having the experience of performing on the biggest stage will certainly help him at the Light Blues, especially if they qualify for the Champions League.

In-Beom Hwang

Hwang averaged 1.5 shots and 70 touches per game, suggesting he was always keen on get on the ball and try and make something happen for South Korea.

Even if Jack does sign a new contract at Rangers, he only has a couple more years at the highest level and signing someone in the mould of Hwang could only improve the squad heading towards the future as the Korean sensation chases a new challenge.

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