Jurgen Klopp’s predatory-like pursuit of Roma goalkeeper Alisson and the drastic change in transfer tact in 2018 lends weight to the argument that the German has come to realise a stark truth – he needs to win, and win fast.
For all the thrilling attacking football played by Liverpool – spearheaded by Mohamed Salah’s relentless and record-breaking scoring last season – club and coach have nothing to show for it in their trophy cabinet.
Fans of England’s two most dominant and popular teams, from the red halves of Merseyside and Manchester, threw beaming and begrudging praise in equal measure on the brand of football being expressed by Klopp’s rampant Reds last term.
United fans will be loathe to admit it, but they wish their team played the type of scintillating stuff Salah and Co bestowed upon Europe in 2017/18.
The fact remains, however, that 28 miles down the East Lancs Road, Jose Mourinho is able to fall back on the fact that in two years in charge of the Red Devils – six months fewer than Klopp has held the reins at Anfield – the Portuguese has pulled in three trophies – the Europa League, League Cup, as well as the Community Shield, all in 2016/17.
Commander Klopp has led his troops to three finals, and three subsequent defeats.
Of course, the mighty Real Madrid stood in their way in May’s Champions League final as they went to Kiev convinced they could bring home a sixth European crown.
Liverpool’s loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final was a third showpiece defeat under Jurgen Klopp.
Had the Merseysiders possessed a goalkeeper of Alisson’s ilk between the sticks, however, instead of the error-prone, and admittedly slightly concussed Loris Karius, it might well have been red rather than bright white reigning in the rain of Ukraine.
Liverpool’s long-term transfer policy is aimed at protecting the club’s future and procuring the best young talent around.
Yet, with the impending acquisition of Selecao stopper Alisson, the club is showing it is very much aware that while patience with young players’ progress is a virtue, victory cannot wait as long.
That is why Klopp and the men behind the scenes at Melwood shifted their feet slightly last season when breaking the club’s transfer record – for a defender.
Virgil van Dijk’s arrival from Southampton in a bombastic £75million move sent shockwaves around football – it was £23.25m more than Manchester City parted with to bring Benjamin Mendy in from Monaco six months earlier.
Klopp said at the time he “disliked” Dutchman Van Dijk’s price tag, but felt it reflected the reality of modern football.
It brought his now infamous quote from when United spent a then world record fee of £89m on Paul Pogba in the summer of 2016 back into focus.
“Other clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players. I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend that money,” the German said.
His tune had changed in January, claiming Paris Saint-Germain’s smashing of the Pogba fee after bringing in Neymar from Barcelona for £200m last summer, followed by Kylian Mbappe on loan for £165.7m, had “changed everything”.
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane plundered goals last season, yet Liverpool still didn’t win anything.
And it had. Premier League champions Manchester City know all too well the price of failing to build upon success after they had a couple of disastrous windows following their second title in 2013/14.
The likes of Eliaquim Mangala, Wilfried Bony and Willy Caballero came in and City slipped to second the following year.
And even though that horror show was rectified with Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane arriving in subsequent summers, they had to wait until last season for the damage of 2014 and a three-year drought to end.
Klopp and his astute transfer team have realised they need to win, and they need to win now.
After all, despite their swashbuckling style and plundering of 84 goals last term, they still finished fourth and six points behind United’s turgid turn on their traditions.
Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon was said to be a key figure in the signing of Van Dijk, smoothing over relations with Southampton after the troubles of last summer.
Klopp also has sporting director Michael Edwards and head of scouting and recruitment Dave Fallows at his disposal, while keeper recruiter and coach John Achterberg will surely have played a key role in Alisson’s impending arrival.
The Dutchman is known for having an encyclopedic knowledge of goalkeepers from across the world, and his opinion is both sought and valued by Klopp.
Karius’ two errors gifted Real a 3-1 win in May’s final.
The German is determined not to let the momentum gained from a stellar season turn into another ‘this is our year’ scenario, with Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri excellent summer business so far.
With a £66.8m fee for one of the most promising goalkeepers in the world agreed with Roma, nearly double the previous record for a stopper set by Man City’s capture of Ederson, it is clear Klopp means business.
In previous years, Karius would have been consoled and repaired. Klopp and Liverpool are rapidly realising they have to be more ruthless.
By washing their hands of calamitous Karius and putting their trust in the arms of Alisson and the rest of their summer signings, as well as Salah, there’s real hope Liverpool may finally get their hands on elusive English top-flight title number nineteen.
