კარგია სტატიაა თუ წაიკითხავთ
In May 2015, Liverpool had closed off the season and the service of one of their greatest-ever players in utter embarrassment. Steven Gerrard’s final game for the club was a 6-1 hammering at the hands of Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
Fast forward a year, and while another campaign ends in disappointment, at least it came in a European showpiece - the Reds have the consolation of having swatted away Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal before a 3-1 defeat to Sevilla in Basel.
The progress of the team over the past 12 months, and more accurately in the seven since Jurgen Klopp succeeded Brendan Rodgers as manager, is unquestionable.
It must only be the starting point though.
Another year on, when Liverpool reflect on 2016-17, the Reds will need to ensure there is triumph and not tears heading into the summer. They need to make sure 'almost' morphs into 'achieved'.
Next season will be Klopp’s first full term at the helm, and his reconstruction will properly take shape. A sizeable chunk of the German’s makeover will come in the market, with the manager admitting after the Europa League final: “This team will be a little bit different next year, that’s clear. We will do something with transfers, that’s clear.”
Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze, who Klopp promoted while at Borussia Dortmund, is a primary target. Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius is on Klopp’s shortlist, as is Germany starlet Mahmoud Dahoud. Poland midfielder Piotr Zielinski has already revealed his desire to move to Merseyside, while Leicester's Ben Chilwell has told the Premier League champions Anfield is his destination of choice.
Centre-back Joel Matip and 19-year-old Marko Grujic were secured for the new season in January, while several players will be heading for the Melwood exit soon. Joe Allen is expected to leave in search for regular game-time, while 35-year-old Kolo Toure could be offered a different role at the club as he considers whether to call time on his playing career.
Fellow centre-back Martin Skrtel’s standing at the club has dropped considerably and the Slovakian seemed to be engaging in goodbyes at West Brom on Sunday.
Back-up goalkeeper Adam Bogdan will be axed, while Danny Ward is set to be loaned to Huddersfield as he builds up experience between the sticks. Jose Enrique has already been let go and there are question marks over Mamadou Sakho, who faces a lengthy suspension from UEFA for an anti-doping violation.
Tiago Ilori will be looking for a new club, while Brad Smith must decide whether he wants to be a squad player or start elsewhere. Lucas, Liverpool’s longest-serving player, could be offered the chance to stay in a bit-part capacity.
Joao Teixeira will leave and Christian Benteke should command a few offers, even though the Reds will take a financial hit on his sale. Mario Balotelli will be moved off the books and there are doubts over the future of Jordon Ibe and Lazar Markovic.
Klopp has a good spine to work with, which needs a sprinkling of stardust, and he’ll also have the services of Danny Ings and Joe Gomez to call upon. The manager, importantly, will be able to shape his side during a full pre-season, which he has identified as the most crucial period in any campaign.
A favourite refrain of his - “there is no secret except hard work” - will be put into practice during rigorous sessions, which will sometimes number three a day. The former BVB boss wants his team fully conditioned to deal with the demands of an intense Premier League season, and while defeat at St Jakob-Park was disheartening, Liverpool will have no continental commitments next season as they target mass domestic improvement.
“Now it’s clear we are not in a European competition next year, it means no football on a Thursday and it means we have time to train,” said Klopp.
“We will use it and we will come back stronger, that’s for sure. You saw on the way to the final we had a few moments where we maybe over-performed – we were unbelievable and the boys showed what they are capable of, but then to have this consistency you need a little bit more time.
“They are still young and this was their first big final – unfortunately their second [losing] final of the season, but it was a big final and we will use this experience together. Then someday everybody will say Basel was a very decisive moment for the wonderful future of Liverpool FC.”
Apart from the personnel changes and the increased industry, Klopp must create a greater mental steel among the squad. His transformation of the atmosphere around the club as well as the attitude of the players has already been laudable, but it needs to be elevated.
Against Sevilla, Liverpool capitulated as soon as the Liga side equalised following Daniel Sturridge’s wondrous outside-of-the-left-foot opener. It was 17 seconds into the second half when the champions struck, and the Reds never recovered.
“It was obvious the first goal of Sevilla had a big influence on our own game,” said Klopp.
“In this moment we lost faith in our style of play. We changed from passing simply and quickly, to complicated. We lost our formation, so it was not compact anymore.
“The reaction was the problem,” admitted Klopp. “We all have to learn to react better in situations like this.
“We need to use the experience because I am sure we will be in a final again and we will have decisive moments again.
“And if we have decisive moments then we have to react better, all of us.”
მიმაგრებული სურათი (გადიდებისთვის დაუწკაპუნეთ სურათზე)
· 
LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB [VOL.93], It's still long way to go
