Frank Lampard advised to learn from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool compromise

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has advised Frank Lampard to follow Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool blueprint this season.

Nevin has advocated the German’s use of “heavy metal football tactics” but thinks the way he adapts his system when his players are tired is the true key to Liverpool’s success.

Klopp’s Liverpool blueprint: Five things to know…

• Lampard has been urged to learn from Klopp’s tactical approach at Anfield by Nevin.
• The Chelsea manager has so far overseen two defeats and a draw this season.
• While he is waiting for a first competitive win, his style of play has been praised.
• Klopp is renowned for his high-octane “heavy metal football tactics” but also knows when to adapt his system.
• Nevin believes Klopp’s ability to tweak his philosophy when is players are tired is key to Liverpool’s success.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7343141-chelsea-can-get-excited-about-n-golo-kante-s-messi-impression

So far, Lampard has tried to implement a fast-paced, free-flowing brand of football and, despite receiving praise for his style of play, the results haven’t been forthcoming.

As such, Nevin has suggested Lampard learns to tweak his philosophy when his players look jaded, similar to what Klopp does at Anfield.

He told Chelsea’s official website: “Playing the high tempo game Frank wants and that we are already enjoying is not easy.

“It is interesting to see that Jurgen Klopp adapts his heavy metal football tactics when he thinks his players need a little break.

“This dilemma of weariness v work rate may not be a concern for a few weeks now, but it will return when the Champions League group stage starts.

“Playing on a Tuesday or Wednesday and then returning to face a rested side at the weekend is something that has to be managed.

“When too many players are tired the game opens up, the play gets stretched and because of that James Maddison, in particular, got acres of space in the number 10 position on Sunday, something that should never be allowed.”

Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.

‘The biggest problem hasn’t been tactical’

Nevin attempted to analyse where Chelsea’s shortcomings have manifested and he believes it is simply a question of fitness at this present time, rather than tactical naivety.

Speaking about the 1-1 draw against Leicester City, he said: “The system itself was bold once more, with [N’Golo] Kante pushing forward from the right of the midfield and Mason Mount playing left midfield but attacking as often as possible.It was the Frank Lampard position of doing a box-to-box shift but most interested in the opposition box.

“The same players could easily shift from a 4-3-3, to a 4-2-3-1, to a diamond in midfield.

“The biggest problem wasn’t tactical in the end, it was the fact that we had to make some changes after the hour, but to be honest there were just too many tired players out there.

“[Olivier] Giroud, Jorginho and [Christian] Pulisic were subbed but I would not have batted an eyelid if it had been Mason, or even N’Golo or Pedro. The latter two both had injuries to contend with to add to the tiredness.

“That is the game at the top level, and it is all about finding answers to these sometimes seemingly intractable problems.”