After a progressive start to his reign at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp has seen his Liverpool side start to drop points in recent weeks.
Defeat at home to Crystal Palace saw the German trainer lament the fact that Reds fans left the ground early, while a 2-0 reverse to basement dwellers Newcastle was labelled the worst performance of his tenure by the former Borussia Dortmund coach.
Divock Origi’s late equaliser rescued a point for the Merseyside outfit against West Brom on Sunday, which could be looked at in one of two ways.
Firstly, if the Reds are to be considered as major top-four challengers, they need to be more of a dominant force at home and really should be winning these types of games. That said, given that the hosts were trailing deep into injury time and got a lucky reprieve in the 96th minute, it could well have been a case of another defeat for Klopp.
The German manager has generally made a positive impression since moving to England, with the Liverpool fans taken in with his ambitious outlook, the players responding to his methods and the wider audience finding him likeable given his humorous and open demeanour.
However, there is a case to suggest that Klopp’s image may well have taken a hit in the draw with West Brom, with two things that he may well regret looking back at the game.
Firstly, the former Dortmund tactician was caught up in an unnecessary and unpleasant war of words with Tony Pulis in an ill-tempered game and subsequently refused to shake the Baggies manager’s hand at the final whistle.
This unsporting gesture will not enamour him to anyone and goes some way to nullifying his likeable personality.
It can be viewed to some extent as an insight into his will-to-win or show that he will not stand by and take second best, but it is not a good example to set and something that if he had his time again he may reconsider doing.
The second was the vehement celebration that Klopp instigated at the final whistle, taking his players to the Kop hand-in-hand to salute the crowd.
Although the late nature of the Liverpool equaliser was a get out of jail free card and a relief to all those affiliated with the hosts, looking at it objectively, a team with Champions League ambitions was celebrating a home draw with West Brom.
Klopp said in his after-match interview that the result could well be the turning point in the Merseyside club’s season, but accepting a point at home should never really be a source of such euphoria.
The German trainer is still getting to grips with the English game and it will take time for his footballing ideologies to truly sink in at Anfield.
However, despite Klopp being liked by the Liverpool fans and the wider football community, he may well look back at his own actions against West Brom and regret the example he set for his players.
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