‘Fergie used to do it’: Lawrenson shares how Klopp handles ‘disappointed players’ at Liverpool

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Speaking to OTB, Mark Lawrenson has been discussing Jurgen Klopp and how he handles squad rotation at Liverpool.

The Reds are one of the best teams in the country and alongside that, they also have one of the deepest squads in the Premier League.

There’s a reason they were able to win the Carabao Cup without fielding a number of their key players in their run to the final, but having such strength in depth can be a curse as well as a blessing.

Indeed, having so many good players inevitably leads to some very talented footballers being pushed to the bench, and as you can imagine, that can lead to some disharmony.

However, Mark Lawrenson has shared how Klopp handles players when they’re dropped from the XI, and he claims that the German is using a similar strategy to the one Alex Ferguson used to at Manchester United.

What’s been said?

Lawrenson shared what he knows about Klopp.

“He told him (Kelleher) at least a month ago if not longer that he’ll play in the final. You talk about Manchester United and leaks from players who aren’t happy, but you don’t get any of that at Liverpool, and that’s because when he leaves players out he tells them ‘you won’t play tomorrow, but in two games when we have Brighton away, you’re definitely going to play’. He’s always giving these disappointed players something to look forward to, Fergie used to do it at Manchester United towards the end of his career and he’s doing exactly the same thing. He’s an outstanding manager and he’s an outstanding bloke as well,” Lawrenson said.

Perfect balance

As Lawrenson says, Klopp is an outstanding manager, and he’s struck the perfect balance within his squad in terms of playing time.

You very rarely see any Liverpool players complaining, and while Klopp will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest tacticians of this generation, he should also be recognised as one of football’s great man managers.

The German has always had a harmonious squad at Liverpool and long may that continue.