Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool 'Mentality Monsters' are broken with no recovery in sight

Photo by Alexander Migl

Jurgen Klopp promised to turn Liverpool from "doubters to believers" but for the first time in his six seasons at the club, there are doubts surrounding the German.

His job is safe at Anfield but Klopp is now facing his biggest challenge so far. Just two wins in eight, three in 12. After their 7-0 win over Crystal Palace, Liverpool went five points clear at the top. Two months on, they are sixth, below West Ham United.

Klopp has spoken about his team being fatigued, both physically and mentally. The German pressing model, which he will face against Julian Nagelsmann and RB Leipzig tonight, is based more around energy and quick transitions than Pep Guardiola's juego de posicion, a more possession-orientated style.

It is true that Klopp's Liverpool over the past two seasons have tried to control games more, incorporating a more possession-based style into the high-press. In 2018/19, Liverpool had the third-lowest pressing stats but the biggest success percentage. They were the second-last in 2019/20 but again had the highest success percentage. This season, however, Liverpool have the 11th highest but still the most efficient at pressing.

Manchester City, in the two full seasons, have been last with the number of presses but were the second-most efficient. They have so much of the ball that there is no need to press as much.

The physical exertion of pressing has, unfortunately for Klopp, been worsened by season-ending injuries to key players. Virgil van Dijk has been ruled out since October, Joe Gomez since November and Joel Matip at the start of this month.

The last two are injury-prone and Klopp's decision not to reinforce his squad with a fourth-choice centre-back in the summer transfer window seemed foolish. Manchester City did not replace Vincent Kompany last season and had to make-do with Fernandinho in defence after Aymeric Laporte suffered a three-month knee injury.

In that time, Manchester City picked up 38/57 points. Liverpool dropped just two points, effectively securing the title.

When Liverpool stood still, City acted by signing Benfica's Ruben Dias for an initial £62 million. His unlikely relationship with John Stones has been the foundation of City's form this season. They have conceded one goal in their last eight matches - a Mo Salah penalty.

The injuries in defence have meant Liverpool have lost Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in the middle. Their ability at dictating play and providing a solid base at midfield has been a massive blow. Henderson organises and leads from the centre with van Dijk doing the same job in defence. Liverpool's midfield without their captain is a weaker one.

The signings of Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies have come too late to change the tide.

Progress had been achieved in every season Klopp has been manager. A Europa League final, Champions League qualification, a Champions League final, Champions League success and a first title in 30 years. The mental strain of continually stretching yourself to reach those highs will eventually takes its toll.

What should worry Jurgen Klopp is how Liverpool can be "back" after two convincing wins against Tottenham and West Ham to then be so ordinary against Brighton and lose. What should worry Klopp even more is how feeble his defence is, to implode against Leicester City after conceding one goal.

Alisson's performances in the past two matches have highlighted the mental fatigue this squad faces. He looked broken against Manchester City. He dawdled on the ball, almost losing it to Gabriel Jesus, before seconds later kicking straight to Phil Foden, who danced through the Liverpool defence to set Ilkay Gundogan for City's second.

Just three minutes later, his normally immaculate distribution cost Liverpool again as his booted the ball at Bernardo Silva, who teed up Raheem Sterling for an easy tap-in.

A week later, with the game at 1-1, Youri Tielemans hit a lofted ball to Harvey Barnes that Kabak, on his debut, would easily deal with. There was no communication between him and Alisson and the goalkeeper came rushing out to clear the ball. The defensive mix-up allowed Jamie Vardy to walk the ball into the net.

Liverpool need a reset but that won't come until the end of the season. The delayed start meant the winter break was scrapped for this season so Liverpool, despite being out of the FA Cup, will have to play every week until the end of the season.

They will want to reach the latter stages of the Champions League but the only aim Jurgen Klopp should be setting now is to get back to winning matches.