This is the second part in our series charting Jurgen Klopp’s nine seasons at Liverpool from his 2015 arrival to his upcoming departure from Anfield. You can read part one by clicking here.
It was generally accepted that Jurgen Klopp had something of a free pass when he came in at Liverpool, having inherited a less than world-beating squad from Brendan Rodgers, but in 2016 all eyes would be on his first summer transfer window at the Anfield helm.
Christian Benteke was shoved out the door after only one season, with Martin Skrtel, Jordon Ibe and Joe Allen also departing. Joel Matip was snapped up on a free transfer from Schalke 04, Gini Wijnaldum came in after Newcastle’s relegation and Southampton were raided yet again, this time for Sadio Mane.
The Reds began the season with a rip-roaring win away to Arsenal, who scored first but found themselves 4-1 down before two Gunners goals (one from future LFC player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain) ensured a nervy finish in a pulsating clash in the north London sunshine.
Dropped points at Burnley and Tottenham left Liverpool with ground to make up but, once they finally got back to Anfield after the opening of the expanded Main Stand, their campaign took flight as champions Leicester were thrashed 4-1.
Impressive wins over Chelsea (2-1 away) and Hull (5-1) followed as Klopp’s team took 26 points from a possible 30 between September and November to put themselves in a promising position as the festive period approached.
When the Reds went top after a 6-1 evisceration of Watford at Anfield, the exuberance of their attack led to them being dubbed the ‘Red Arrows‘ in some quarters. Unfortunately, problems still prevailed at the other end of the pitch.
Loris Karius won’t want to watch back his first two games in December 2016. A clanger in a 2-2 home draw against West Ham was bad enough, but what happened a week previously was head-bangingly frustrating.
Liverpool led 2-0 and 3-1 at various intervals away to Bournemouth, but a kamikaze second half culminated with the Cherries scoring a stoppage time winner after scenes of calamity at the back from LFC.
It wasn’t the best portent for a yuletide Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, and a 0-0 stalemate looked nailed-on until, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Daniel Sturridge struck
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