Seven-year switch: Jurgen Klopp is sticking with Liverpool – but can he revive their fortunes?

When Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool visit Arsenal on Sunday, they can be forgiven for reminiscing, for seeing in their hosts a bittersweet reminder of their younger selves. Fresh, hungry, fearless, brimming with ambition, sold on their manager’s vision and emboldened by the returns on that investment.

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Currently, it must all seem a very long time ago.

While Mikel Arteta has been in charge of Arsenal for almost three years and finally has a team forged in his image, tomorrow sees the seventh anniversary of Klopp’s arrival at Anfield and present circumstances mean the celebrations may be a little muted.

Despite the considerable success the German has enjoyed on Merseyside – a first league title in 30 years to go with a sixth European Cup, an FA Cup and League Cup – a spell which has seen the club establish itself as perennial trophy challengers at home and abroad, right now Klopp’s team find themselves mired in mid-table. They have a leaky defence, misfiring attack and serious questions about their future direction.

After reaching an inflection point over the summer, 
both club and manager 
find themselves in uncharted territory.

Klopp spent seven-and-a-half years at Mainz, his first job in management, and seven seasons at Borussia Dortmund, his second post. If the German sees seven years as the natural shelf life of a managerial reign, his time in charge at Anfield would likely have expired at the end of last season.

Instead, Klopp decided to stick around, signing a contract extension until 2026, and embarking on a course of action designed to partially rebuild and rejuvenate his team while remaining competitive.

Klopp and the club made important, far-reaching decisions on two of the most