Seven ages of Klopp: Liverpool’s journey from his appointment to Paris

Jürgen Klopp had worked with Liverpool’s squad for only three days before his first game. As such, he could have been forgiven for sticking with the tactical setup and style used by his predecessor, Brendan Rodgers. Instead he went full-on gegenpressing from the get-go.

The team were organised in Klopp’s favoured 4-3-3 and ran themselves into the ground. Tottenham did not know what had hit them, literally at times, as their opponents pressed relentlessly. There was a thirst to win possession quickly and use it even quicker, and the afternoon ended with Liverpool covering more distance than they had in any previous game that season and becoming the first team to run further than Spurs had (116km to 114.8km).

The revolution was immediately under way but it was obvious there was work to do: Liverpool’s play was unrefined and out-and-out chaotic at times, and that remained the case for the rest of the season. The weaknesses were exposed in the two finals they reached, against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup and Sevilla in the Europa League, the latter an especially chastening occasion because defeat not only meant missing out on a trophy but on Champions League qualification.

Liverpool recorded this fourth league victory, and third in succession, early in Klopp’s first full season via a performance that well and truly showed the German was delivering on his promise of bringing heavy-metal football to Anfield.

The hosts were excellent against Mike Phelan’s Hull and key were two changes to the frontline: Roberto Firmino taking up a false 9 position, something introduced in the 4-1 victory at Manchester City the previous season, and the inclusion of Sadio Mané after his summer arrival from Southampton. Eyebrows were raised