Pepijn Lijnders credits Liverpool’s impressive comeback this season to their recruitment efforts, new leadership, and the motivation provided by the possibility of facing failure.
The threat was made by Liverpool’s assistant manager as a lighthearted joke to the team during pre-season training. Both he and Jürgen Klopp wanted to put an end to the disappointment of the 2022-23 season. Lijnders is confident that the team’s determination to move on, combined with the improved midfield and the increased leadership from players like Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, has brought new energy to Klopp and the team.
Liverpool is still chasing after all four potential trophies and will be playing against Fulham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Alexander-Arnold, a key defender, will not be able to play for the next three weeks due to a knee ligament injury he sustained during the FA Cup third-round match against Arsenal.
Lijnders stated that a good manager cannot exist without good ownership. When questioned about how Klopp revitalized Liverpool for this season, he mentioned that the ownership made necessary investments in the team, which is a positive sign. This infusion of energy, strength, talent, and youth into the squad reinvigorates the manager and the coaching staff as they work with new players and communicate their ideas once again. This is one factor that contributed to their success.
“The second item, which is likely the most crucial, is that we established a boundary before the pre-season began. I jokingly mentioned that anyone who was negative in this establishment would receive a punch in the face. I made this statement to every individual present, ensuring that we didn’t carry any negativity into the season.”
“In preparation for the season, all of our players were present for an extended period of time. Many important veterans who were leaders on the team left, so newer players had to step up and fill those roles. Mo Salah, Virgil, Alisson, and Trent did just that and demonstrated their abilities. As a result, we were able to increase our training to three times a day, something we had not done previously. Despite the challenges, the team was determined to succeed and pushed through.”
“These factors are beneficial and essential, but ultimately, success is key. It is important to secure victories even in challenging situations. This was exemplified by the crucial win against Newcastle away, which sparked momentum for the team. They showed great determination in key moments.”
Lijnders thinks that the progress of Curtis Jones has contributed to the team’s improvement, along with better passing from the defenders in the center.
“I don’t want to continuously talk about the new players, but Curtis’ impact on the team since the previous season’s end is equivalent to a new signing,” he stated. “He doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves, possibly because he is a product of the academy, I am unsure why.”
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He stated, “What often goes unnoticed is the improvement in our center-backs’ ball-playing abilities. They are positioning themselves closer to the offense and making effective passes both outside and inside, which has greatly elevated their performance. Their contribution has been significant.”
Even though Alexander-Arnold not playing is a disappointment for Liverpool, his absence will only affect one Premier League match against Bournemouth due to the winter break and other cup games. Lijnders shared that left-backs Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas may be back from their shoulder and collarbone injuries by the end of the month.
Source: theguardian.com
