Jurgen Klopp hasn't endured the best start to his seventh season in charge at Liverpool with a 3-2 defeat away to Arsenal on Sunday the latest setback for the German boss. And with the Anfield side sitting tenth in the English Premier League, 14 points off the Gunners, former midfielder Dietmar Hamann is concerned how much credit Klopp has left in the bank if his team start getting cut adrift from a top four spot.
Klopp has masterminded Liverpool to six major trophies in his seven years in charge including the Champions League which has resulted in him being regarded as one of the best managers in the world. However, former Red Hamann reckons that does not make him invincible. In fact, he has made the hold call that the 55-year-old's future could be in doubt should they lose to Rangers or Manchester City in their next two games.
“The dynamics at Liverpool are no different than anywhere else and if results are not there, at some stage the manager will come under pressure,” Hamann told talkSPORT. "If they were to get beat next week, or not win against Manchester City, it could be eight or nine points off fourth place.
"We know the owners are not the biggest spenders, but we know how vitally important it is for the team to be in the Champions League because of the revenue you get. At some stage, we will have a discussion about the manager and I’m not sure how far we’re off it. He said this week he still feels he’s the right man to do it.”
Hamann also insists that the attitude of captain Jordan Henderson in recent weeks has emphasised that there's underlying problems within the club. Henderson cut a frustrated figure as he was substituted in their clash with Rangers last Tuesday and his actions have made Hamann concerned that there's complacency creeping in for the first time under Klopp's leadership.
He added: “But I look at little things, Jordan Henderson midweek against Rangers. His number’s going up and he’s reluctantly taking his armband off and coming off shaking his head. This is something we haven’t seen at Liverpool for five years. Henderson, for me, is the ultimate team player, whenever he never played he came on, did his job. When he came off, he shook the manager’s hand, said everything was good. Maybe there’s little signs that there’s problems within the team or with the manager.”
Hamann wasn't done there. He then took aim at Mo Salah who he deems to have went off the boil since signing a new contract and admitted he has fears ahead the visit to Ibrox on Wednesday evening. “Arsenal in the second half were everything Liverpool was four or five years ago,” the pundit concluded. "This Liverpool team looks tired, pedestrian and they just look flat. I’m not sure where the spark’s going to come from because obviously they’ve won games in the past, they beat Rangers but a tough game at Ibrox now. I just don’t know where the spark is going to come from. We talk about the end of an era, I wouldn’t write them off.”
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