12 reasons for Liverpool fans to be positive this Christmas, including ‘The Kloppelganger’

"There’s no room for Scrooges at Anfield this Christmas – the feeling is good and so it should be. Besides, Ebenezer Mourinho is doing his bit to absorb all the negative press while Jurgen Klopp’s men continue to shine. Feeling festive and all that, here are 12 reasons for all Liverpool fans to be jolly…"

Read my article on Empire of the Kop:

12 reasons for all Liverpool fans to be positive over the festive period (and all season)

There’s no room for Scrooges at Anfield this Christmas – the feeling is good and so it should be. Besides, Ebenezer Mourinho is doing his bit to absorb all the negative press while Jurgen Klopp’s men continue to shine. Feeling festive and all that, here are 12 reasons for all Liverpool fans to be jolly…

1. Semi-finals 

A comfortable 2-0 over Leeds United at Anfield ensured Liverpool reached the semi-finals of the EFL Cup for a record 17^th time. Drawn against Southampton, the first leg of the tie will be played at St. Mary’s Stadium on the week commencing January 9^th, with the return leg at Anfield a fortnight later. In previous EFL Cup meetings between the two clubs, Liverpool won 6-1 in the quarter-finals last season and clinched a 3-0 aggregate victory when they met in the semi-finals in 1987. The luck of the draw means the Reds will have the 12^th man to their advantage in the deciding leg in a bid to reach the final for the second year running. Either Man United or Hull City await for a clash at Wembley, or as it’s more commonly known, Anfield South.

2. Fear factor 

Nobody wants to play Liverpool. A collective sigh must be heard in training grounds around England when teams look at their fixture lists and it’s Anfield on the calendar. Klopp, Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz enjoyed great success working together at Borussia Dortmund, and there’s no doubt that the trio have implemented their ‘heavy metal’ style of football at Anfield. Relentless attacking and heavy pressing has brought plenty of goals and excitement already this term. Add to the mix goalkeeping coach John Achterberg and first-team development coach Pep Lijnders, and Liverpool are in very good hands to develop into a force in Europe once again.

3. Kloppelganger 

Since I’m on the subject of staff, let’s not forget one man who’s brought amusement to us all for the sheer fact he looks exactly like Herr Klopp. Andreas Kornmayer, head of fitness and conditioning, could literally have been hired on the basis that he is Klopp’s doppelganger. As if one Klopp isn’t good enough, suddenly his mirror image gets up from the bench to offer his expertise during a game – fantastic. He’s worked his magic on getting the squad up to speed with Klopp’s high-pressing game since joining from Bayern Munich in the summer, and he’s got the look down to a tee. 

4. Squad harmony

Isn't it nice to see a smiley, happy team turning out good performances? Klopp’s definitely got the dressing room on his side and a cuddle after each game must be doing wonders for the players’ confidence. It must be hard not to smile when you’re playing such good football. That, or some players just want to show off their dentists’ good work (Bobby Firmino, keep flashing those gnashers). But it’s evident throughout the team, from Gini Wijnaldum’s beaming smile, to Ben Woodburn’s boyish delight at scoring his first senior goal for Liverpool. The only player not showing his pearly whites enough is injury prone Daniel Sturridge. Perhaps he just needs more hugs, and a new pair of legs for Christmas?

5. Coutinho’s injury

This is no reason to be jolly. What are you, a Man U fan? No, the fact Coutinho is injured is devastating to say the least, but the news that the Little Magician could be back by New Year’s Eve is indeed, reason to be cheerful. When the Brazilian went down clutching his ankle in the first half against Sunderland, later sporting a protective boot and crutches, alarm bells were ringing. The eagerly awaited scans proved there was no break and ligament damage was the diagnosis, meaning he’ll miss up to five weeks of action. Liverpool play Man City on NYE, so we hope to see the no.10 back for what will be a vital game.

6. Divock Origi

Just when the Reds started to look short on options in attack – with Danny Ings out for the season, Sturridge (again) sidelined, Adam Lallana with a groin strain, Coutinho nursing his ankle and even Firmino taking a knock to the calf – Divock Origi steps up and scores in two consecutive games. The 21-year-old Belgian came off the bench to score the opening goal of a 2-0 win against a (very) defensive Sunderland team and followed up with the opener against Leeds in the EFL Cup three days later. Origi has only started four matches this season – all in the League Cup – but with injuries plaguing the ranks his services will be called upon more often.

7. The Main Stand

Liverpool’s superb new Main Stand not only looks the part, but it offers extra noise adding to the already intimidating atmosphere at Anfield. It took 614 days to build, but the mega 20,500-seater stand adds a further 8,500 seats, which means there are now 54,167 pairs of lungs belting out ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ every game. £115million well spent.

8. Gerrard

Club legend Steven Gerrard announcing his retirement from football was perhaps a rather sad moment for Liverpool fans, but the imminent news that he’ll take a job at the Academy is something to look forward to. Gerrard is continuing his UEFA ‘A’ license with the help of the Liverpool staff and is all set to become a coach for the youth ranks. Future Liverpool manager? He’ll certainly learn a fair few things from Klopp.

9. Tasty transfer rumours

It’s that time of season, a month to go until the transfer market opens its doors and rumours are flying around linking every player under the sun with a move to Liverpool. Given the recent injury problems, Klopp’s need to go to market is of no great surprise and reinforcements in attack would be welcome at Anfield. Celtic’s Moussa Dembele, Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic and Sassuolo’s Gregoire Defrel are just three names linked with the club, just wait for the Marco Reus rumours to get going.

10. The Academy

But let’s not go too crazy in the transfer market, because the Academy production line is producing some top home-grown talent. Thanks to Academy director Alex Inglethorpe and his staff, talented youngsters are coming through to make an impact for the first team and none more so than Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn, who started in the 2-0 League Cup win against Leeds along with fellow graduate Ovie Ejaria. A pinpoint Alexander-Arnold assist set up Origi for the first goal and Woodburn almost burst the net in front of the Kop to wrap up the win and send Liverpool into the semi-final draw.

11. “…Woodburn, Woodburn 58.”

This lad deserves a special mention and is one to watch for the future. He made his Premier League debut coming off the bench against Sunderland, albeit for a few minutes, but what was to follow in the game against Leeds was even more special. At 17 years and 45 days, the Academy star latched on to Wijnaldum’s assist and became Liverpool’s all-time youngest goalscorer, breaking a record previously held by Michael Owen. Must be something in the water in Chester.

12.  The title race

Yeah, I said it. Whether you like it or not (what’s not to like?), Liverpool are in the title race. Currently one point behind Chelsea, the Reds have been on a scintillating run of form that has locked them in to the top four. A return to Champions League football has to be the priority for Klopp’s men, but finishing top of the tree at Christmas doesn't look unreasonable at this stage of the campaign, and you all know the omen that goes with that. (In case you don’t, six times in the past seven seasons the team at the top of the table on December 25 has been there at the end of the season. I’ll leave you with that.)    

A look at Adam Lallana’s incredible renaissance under Jurgen Klopp

"It’s evident for club and country; Jurgen Klopp is getting the best out of Adam Lallana."

Read my article about Adam Lallana on Empire of the Kop:

Why Liverpool need to give Coutinho a new contract

"It’s time the Reds put an end to feeding star players to the ‘super clubs’. The Little Magician needs a big contract that’ll keep him at the club."

Read my article about Philippe Coutinho on Empire of the Kop:

Communicating: a fine art worth practising

Communication is the most important skill for any leader. Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson is case in point.

History would argue that it is unfeasible to become a great leader without possessing great communication skills. A more detailed look at some of the world’s most influential figures would point to their ability to communicate powerfully and effectively to their audience.

From Bill Gates, to Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela, great leaders in the past have demonstrated an inspiring ability to deliver powerful and moving speeches to communicate their visions effectively. In more recent times – and perhaps not without controversy – Donald Trump’s journey to become President-elect of the United States has been touted as one of the strongest PR campaigns in history. David Fraser, former publicist to Lord Sugar and now MD of PR and SEO agency Ready10, said that when it came to communications, Trump’s campaign was “poetry in motion”.

Critics will argue that we can use science to study the most effective forms of communication, however, it is more of an art, and like all forms of art, excellence is not achieved without practice. Like Trump, English magnate Richard Branson is one of the world’s most successful businessmen and the Virgin founder swears by the power of communication.

Richard Branson proves great leaders require excellent communication skills, in business and life.

Branson’s success speaks for itself and he’s relied on the art of communication to drive the success of the Virgin story. In his blog that he updates frequently, he writes about the importance of communication in leadership and refers to this quote from business author Brian Tracy: “Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.”

When Branson begun writing his book on leadership, The Virgin Way, he openly admitted to never reading any literature on leadership advice. However, he picked up some useful leadership tips from some brilliant minds along the way, and has said that some of his favourite quotes on the subject come from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and American author, salesman, and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar.

Carmine Gallo, a contributor to Forbes Magazine, wrote, “Communication levels the playing field. If you can speak well, you can outshine the competition in so many ways. Every week I receive emails and comments from our readers who have found uncommon success almost immediately upon improving their communication skills.”

On talking about his experience with senior leaders, Gallo has found that at first, very few people like delivering presentations or speaking in front of groups. But after enough practice, they get better at it and in many cases they learn to enjoy it.

Branson strongly believes that communication is an art that requires dedication, time and practice. Like many influential and successful leaders have discovered, once that art is mastered, your ability to influence people, sell products, and inspire others will increase dramatically.

Five little things that can make a big difference to employee engagement

Nobody wants to feel like an outcast in the workplace and it’s no secret that plenty of employee engagement results in increased productivity, employee retention, profitability – the list goes on. Here are five keywords that help to improve employee engagement:

#1 – Trust

Employees need to trust each other as well as whoever’s in charge. Nobody gets to choose who they work with – just like we can’t choose our neighbours – but steps can be made to ensure a harmonious atmosphere is maintained. Team spirit is vital in a successful office environment and employee engagement often depends on how well staff get along and trust each other.

#2 – Goals

It’s refreshing for employees to know exactly what will be expected of them from the minute they are hired and it’s always good to have something to work towards. Communicate clear expectations and goals to your staff. Most employees want to be a part of an exciting future, so outline what they can achieve and how they can go about reaching their targets.

#3 – Praise

Constructive criticism is fine, but most people thrive from receiving positive feedback. It doesn't take much for a leader to acknowledge when something is done well, but a little show of appreciation goes a long way in boosting confidence and morale in staff. When somebody knows they’re doing something well, they’ll do more of it.

#4 – Share

To avoid anyone feeling left out of the big picture, let people in on what is going on within the company as well as how their jobs contribute to the grand scheme of things.

#5 – Incentives

Hitting targets is made easier with incentives, but managers should realise that different things motivate different employees. Pay rises, days off, team building sessions, fast-food Fridays – there are countless ways in which managers can create a sense of belonging within a company.

Analysing Adam Lallana’s incredible renaissance under Jurgen Klopp

It’s evident for club and country; Jurgen Klopp is getting the best out of Adam Lallana

Adam Lallana is in fine form for club and country.

Absent from training ahead of the Premier League clash at home to Sunderland on Saturday, Lallana’s injury picked up on international duty in a friendly against Spain looks to inflict more frustration on Liverpool fans. He endured a mixed spell in his first two seasons at the club, but with a touch of Jurgen Klopp’s magic he’s now considered a key player, which is testament to how far he’s developed under the German’s coaching.

“He plays on the left, he plays on the right, Adam Lallana, makes Messi look sh*te.”
 
That was the chant on loop belted out by thousands of Southampton supporters at St. Mary’s – one I didn't mind getting involved with when I was watching the Saints frequently while I was studying at the nearby university. Seeing Lallana play in League One, helping his team climb the ranks and becoming their most important asset, I knew this was a player I’d love to see wearing red at Anfield.

A product of Saints Academy, which has produced a host of household names (Bale, Walcott, Shearer, to name a few), Lallana signed from Bournemouth Centre of Excellence in 2000, made his first team debut in 2006 and became captain in 2012 when Southampton returned to the Premier League.

It was in the 2008-09 season when Lallana developed into a regular for Southampton, tearing up League One and becoming the first Saints midfielder to score 20 goals in a season, surpassing a record held previously by a certain Matthew Le Tissier. These were the first signs of Lallana’s incredible flair on the ball and his seemingly endless supply of energy off it.

Southampton’s back-to-back promotions and return to the top flight were particularly helped by the ability of Lallana. His technique is remarkable – he’s scored some sublime goals. A quick Google search to double check that he is in fact English was needed when he cut through Hull City’s defence to score a Messi-esque goal in 2013.

Lallana thrived in his first two seasons in the Premier League scoring 12 goals and racking up 10 assists, and was named in the 2013-14 PFA Team of the Year. He was also one of six players to be nominated for the 2013-14 PFA Player of the Year Award, but that season it belonged to an untouchable Luis Suarez.

Lallana was a key player at Southampton and is now beginning to be just as vital at Liverpool.

And then, as if my Football Manager signings were becoming a reality, Lallana signed for Liverpool after returning from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, along with Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren from Southampton. Could he come in and be the influential figure for the Reds that he was for the Saints? Not quite.

A knee injury sustained in pre-season training forced him to miss the start of the 2014-15 season and he didn't exactly hit the ground running. After producing some forgettable performances, the England international struggled to win over the Kop in his first season, scoring only five goals and producing three assists.

Critics were quick to label his £25million move to Anfield as a flop when Lallana’s mixed form continued into his second season with Liverpool, but too much time spent on the bench with Brendan Rodgers as manager proved difficult for him to find any consistency.

Two goals in two consecutive Europa League games showed glimpses of the player that flourished at Southampton, but Liverpool’s form was declining under Rodgers and it wasn't until Klopp’s arrival on Merseyside that a noticeable change in Lallana’s form could be seen.
Now finding himself as a regular in Klopp’s starting line-up, Lallana began to play with the sort of creativity and confidence that got him noticed at Southampton, and he played an important part in helping Liverpool to a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge and a 4-1 away win against Man City.

A new boss and a new year brought a new wave of confidence to the former Saints midfielder when he came on as a second-half substitute to score an injury-time goal in the emphatic 5-4 away win at Norwich City in January this year.

Klopp had seemingly worked out how to use Lallana effectively in his high pressing game, with the midfielder’s impressive work rate and movement promptly turning critics into worshippers. Injury forced him to miss most of February’s fixtures, but an impressive run of form saw him finish the 2015-16 season with seven goals and assists, and more importantly as a candidate for the most improved player under Klopp.

Jurgen Klopp has added extra substance to Lallana's game.

Previously criticised for not scoring enough goals, Lallana has scored three in the league this season – vs. Arsenal, Leicester and Hull – and another three whilst on England duty. He is now a regular starter for England and scored the winning goal against Slovakia in a World Cup Qualifier, and added to his international tally in a 3-0 win against Scotland and a 2-2 draw against Spain.

But much to the frustration of Liverpool fans and Klopp, a groin injury picked up in that friendly against Spain now keeps the revitalized midfielder out of a potential three games, and the very fact this is such a worry is evidence of how much Lallana has improved under his new manager.

In the two other games Lallana has missed this season due to injury, Liverpool have failed to score a goal. A bore draw against Man United in October and another goalless draw in the game at St. Mary’s proved his creativity and energy will be missed, but in Lallana’s absence Gini Wijnaldum has another chance to form a partnership with Emre Can – both have been in fine form this season – in midfield in the “two or three games” Lallana could be out for. 

Why Liverpool need to give Coutinho a new contract

It’s time the Reds put an end to feeding star players to the ‘super clubs’. The Little Magician needs a big contract that’ll keep him at the club.

Phil Coutinho is hot property with rumours linking the Brazilian to Barcelona.

He’s a wizard. A little magician on the ball – ‘o Mágico’, if you will. He’s undoubtedly Liverpool’s key man given his incredible form and the fact social media erupts in a mass panic when he’s pictured in hospital after the international break.

Such brilliant form has propelled Philippe Coutinho back into Brazil’s starting XI and triggered the kind of speculation that could easily unsettle a young star. Barcelona, quite frankly, have had one too many of our key men already, and they need a clear hands-off sign. Javier Mascherano and Luis Saurez were tempted away by the lure of the Catalans (and their millions of Euros), but whatever Neymar has to say, Coutinho is here to stay – or so he should.

It’s not just Barca, the Reds let Xabi Alonso go to Madrid, and a disgruntled Torres trotted off to West London (which went swimmingly for El Nino). But Liverpool will struggle to reach the heights of the Champions League and stay permanently locked into the top four and title race if the club can’t maintain its top talent.

As it happens – and a fact that was well-documented once the media caught a sniff of Barca’s interest – Coutinho isn’t one of Liverpool’s top earners. Obviously time will tell whether the club issue the Brazilian with a lucrative new offer to stay and help the team achieve beautiful things, but Jurgen Klopp’s not going to want to lose his key players.

Compatriots Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have formed an intimidating partnership at Liverpool.

The partnership between Coutinho and Roberto Firmino is blossoming into one of the most exciting spectacles in present day football. The chemistry between the two countrymen is enviable to all opposition and almost unplayable at times – just ask Watford’s defence. Throw Sadio Mane into the mix and Liverpool's 'MCF' is a threatening alternative to Barca's 'MSN'. 

It’s players such as Coutinho and Firmino who play with such understanding and creativity, who are at the top of their game on a club and international level, that will be vital in achieving the team's desired goals. Failure to cross the line in a title race means key players might depart to teams that guarantee trophies and Champions League football each season. Failure to finish in the top four means they almost certainly will.

Once a player hits top form it’s inevitable rumours will start flying around, but when it’s Barcelona that want to sign you and your mates Neymar and Suarez are already at the club, how could you possibly not be tempted and start to think, ‘what if’? That’s the last thing Liverpool need at this stage of the season. Klopp’s regime is in full swing and the team’s style of play is becoming the most feared in the league. Killing the rumours off quickly by issuing a new contract would be a real statement of intent.

Something special is happening at Liverpool under Klopp and for transfer rumours to potentially disrupt the symphony would be a great shame. The answer: give Coutinho an offer he can’t refuse, and whilst you’re at it, give Bobby one too. 'Objetivo Coutinho' - not a chance.

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