Liverpool ended 2020 at the top of the 2020/21 Premier League standings, similar to the end of last season. However, their celebrations were a little disrupted by a goalless draw against Newcastle. For the first time this season, the Reds were unable to score and won a second draw. Previously, Liverpool played against the promotion team, West Bromwich Albion.
The defending champions failed to beat 4 of the 7 lowest ranked teams. The total duration of six hours of matches against Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle resulted in only 4 points and 6 goals.
From 16 matches last season, Liverpool successfully collected 46 points. Meanwhile, currently, with the same number of games, Mohamed Salah and his colleagues have 13 points fewer and are only ahead of their eternal rivals, Manchester United.
Despite the unsatisfactory results, Juergen Klopp’s team must be prepared in the final half of the next season. A busy schedule and many injured players can be a major factor in failure to defend the title. Moreover, pandemic conditions make a player suddenly absent.
The center-back is an area where Juergen Klopp’s main problem is. Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez will not be playing anytime soon. Fabinho was forced to partner Joel Matip until the defender from Cameroon followed an injury. Maybe, for the moment, the Brazilian defensive midfielder is doing a good job, but still not his main capacity as a center-back.
Liverpool have two choices: shopping in the transfer market – which incidentally is not very wise in the midst of a pandemic, or recovering their players quickly. The Reds chose the second option. They added ammunition to the coaching staff room by bringing in Doctor Andreas Schlumberger. Schlumberger will be head of recovery and performance for the Reds, a newly created specialist role.
The figure of the 54-year-old German is already familiar to Juergen Klopp. The two of them worked together for 4 seasons at Borussia Dortmund (2011-2015). While at Dortmund, Schlumberger served as a physical rehabilitation coach. After Klopp left Signal Iduna Park, Schlumberger moved to Bayern Munich for two years before moving to Borussia Moenchengladbach in 2017.
Three years ago, Klopp actually wanted to sign Schlumberger. However, Schlumberger opted for Schalke. Schalke’s crisis this season has made it easier for Klopp to pick him up at Anfield. Later, Schlumberger will have more frequent dialogue with the head of conditioning and fitness, Andreas Kornmayer, and the physical rehabilitation department headed by Jim Moxon and Lee Nobes. Prior to Liverpool in 2016, Kornmayer worked with Schlumberger at Bayern Munich for one year.
The main task of Schlumberger is to help players who have completed physical rehabilitation but still need extra training before they can really look fit and do full training.
“This is not a response to the injured condition of the players, but rather the Schalke situation in our favor. More to the opportunity to add specialist staff to this team. Juergen Klopp has admired him for a long time. COVID will still continue to have an impact on the team in the face of a busy schedule, “a source from the club told The Athletic.
“Andreas’ appointment will be of great help. He will strengthen the performance and rehabilitation department. She has a great nature and blends in well. He is our great asset.”
Schlumberger couldn’t play at center-back. However, his ability will really help the team and of course Klopp will rely on for the next five months. Liverpool is still a big chance to defend the title. They still have the same mentality. The results of new Dcotor Schlumberger signings can be reviewed at the end of next season.
ASL
