Jermaine Jenas has heaped praise on Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, over the German’s handling of his squad players throughout the course of the season.
Klopp has had to call on the likes of Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri in recent weeks, following injuries to Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, and both have been influential in the past few games.
Origi scored a late headed winner against Newcastle in the Reds’ vital 3-2 win at St James’ Park in their penultimate league game of the season, before scoring twice against Barcelona in Klopp’s sides dramatic Champions League semi-final victory. Shaqiri meanwhile delivered the free-kick which Origi scored from last weekend and was involved in Tuesday’s Champions League comeback.
Jenas has praised Klopp for being able to get the duo to perform to their best at a crucial time in Liverpool’s season, despite the pair being on the fringes of the squad this campaign.
“I think to be on the fringes of a squad to turn it on in those important moments you need to have built a relationship with your manager throughout the season,” Jenas told BBC’s Football Focus on Saturday [12:13pm].
“To be able to do that, it proves to me to get what he did out of Origi and Shaqiri in the last couple of weeks, shows that they are fully invested with that manager, and with that football club.”
OPINION
Jenas is right to praise Klopp’s management of his fringe players this season, and in particular both Origi and Shaqiri who have both been largely on the periphery of the German’s squad this season. Origi has made just 11 Premier League appearances so far this season (Premier League stats), but he has played a crucial role with two late winning goals against Everton at Anfield earlier in the season and at Newcastle last weekend. Those two goals could prove to be the difference if the Reds manage to overhaul Manchester City and win the title on Sunday. The Beligian has also been instrumental in Klopp’s side run to the Champions League final, scoring twice in the second leg semi-final comeback against Barcelona. Shaqiri meanwhile has also been limited to 24 Premier League appearances, a lot of which have come from the bench, but he has scored six goals and created a further three assists (Premier League stats) showing his value to Klopp’s side. To have two fringe players performing so well is testament to Klopp’s ability to keep his squad settled and ready to make an impact.
