Two years into the Klopp era, Liverpool has yet to break through

The second anniversary of what some Liverpool supporters believed was tantamount to the Second Coming falls on Saturday, when the club hosts Manchester United.

Two years ago to the day, the club named Juergen Kloppto replace manager Brendan Rodgers, who steered Liverpool to second place in his second season (2013-14) but had since fallen off the pace.

During Klopp’s tenure of 75 games,Liverpool has been tough against the top clubs but inconsistent otherwise. Overall, his win percentage does not match up to that of his predecessor, Rafael Benitez, who guided the club to itslast major trophy, the Champions League, in 2005:
 
Liverpool managers (1998-2017)

  
While the rambunctious and ebullient Klopp, 50, has certainly captivated the fans and inspired his players, he has not sufficiently resolved thoseissues that were prevalent when he arrived. The defense is suspect, goalkeeping is a tossup between Simon Mignolet and one of Klopp’s acquisitions, Loris Karius, and his efforts torebuild were delayed when RB Leipzig refused to sell Naby Kieta until next summer.

Liverpool is seventh, seven points behind co-leaders Manchester City and Manchester United. Thefree-flowing attack instituted by Klopp and propelled by Sadio Mane and Mo Salah has produced 13 goals in seven matches, but Liverpool has conceded 12. City and United have each allowedjust two, third-place Tottenham five, and fourth-place Chelsea six.

Mane suffered a hamstring injury playing for Senegal against Cape Verde last weekend and will miss the Unitedmatch.

Shaky play by centerbacks Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan is a constant concern exacerbated by Liverpool’s mucking up of a deal for Southamptonmainstay Virgil van Dijk. A move for him broke down in June amid allegations he’d been illegally approached by Klopp, who had texted van Dijk directly in violation of FIFA and PremierLeague rules.

Liverpool can re-bid for van Dijk in January but given Southampton’s reluctance to let him go and the fact Keita will cost about $80 million next summer, the price maybe too much.

“Liverpool will only make the big improvements by buying better players,” said former Liverpool star Jan Molby to BBC Sport. “But mostLiverpool fans believe that in 12 months they will have a top midfield player in Keita and a top centre-half in Van Dijk – that will automatically improve them again.”
Lurking just beyondthe horizon for Klopp and Liverpool is the spectre of Bayern Munich, which has hired Jupp Heynckes as interim manager to replace Carlo Ancelotti until next year, when it will likely listKlopp among its long-term candidates.

Klopp shown he can send out prepared, productive teams against top opposition. In 23 matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, ManchesterUnited, Tottenham, and Everton during Klopp’s tenure Liverpool has won 12, tied nine, and lost only two. It finished eighth in his first season and improved to fourth last year to end twoseasons without European play.

“I think there is such a focus on Champions League that top four [in the Premier League] is enough,” said Molby. “For the fans it’s not,because you watch other teams going to Wembley and winning trophies, but I don’t think Klopp is necessarily under pressure to win a trophy.

“Klopp also has the huge personalityLiverpool fans like. We live in an era where personalities are so important, so to have a big personality doesn’t hinder him – in fact I think it’s a massive help.”