Jurgen Klopp has shared that he didn’t ask throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark for any input ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League tie against Midtjylland tonight.
Gronnemark is currently a member of Liverpool’s backroom staff, but he has also worked for Midtjylland in the past, who will be visiting Anfield in a few hours time.
Klopp made it clear to Sky Sports that the 44-year-old has been ‘pretty silent’ during the analysis, but he did praise the Dane for being a ‘super guy’ and helping out the club ‘a lot’ during his two years at the club.
“We saw the influence of Thomas when we watched Midtjylland in the analysis but it was a pretty silent week,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“Thomas is 100 per cent professional and we don’t ask him what they do and he would not give Midtjylland the answers. He’s a super guy and helped us a lot
“Throw-ins are a big part of our preparation but it’s not the only part so we have to think about a lot of things.
“We know they will not make a lot of mistakes around throw-ins. They will have their routines like we have a few. We just have to make sure we can use ours and deny theirs.”
It’s perhaps not the norm to have a throw-in coach as part of your coaching staff, but given where football is heading, those previously unseen things are now making a difference.
Sky Sports reported that Liverpool scored 14 out of their 85 Premier League goals last season from throw-in situations, which is a pretty healthy number.
Whilst there will be some who feel that a coach of that mould isn’t needed, the numbers, on the other hand, show that it’s working.
Well, even though this is a Champions League tie, the current champions of England won’t need throw-ins to win today’s game because they should be able to do the job without needing that extra help.
The Reds recorded a much-needed and valuable 1-0 win against Ajax on the opening night and they will be hoping to secure another three points and clean sheet today.
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