“We drew a line”: How the punchline from Lijnders ignited the Liverpool comeback

Pepijn Lijnders has credited new leadership, summer hiring, and the prospect of a punch to the face for Liverpool’s impressive comeback this season.

In an attempt to move past the disappointment of the 2022–2023 season, Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool’s assistant manager issued the threat as a preseason joke to the team. Lijnders feels that Klopp and the team have been rejuvenated by the club’s resolve to go on, as well as by the calibre of Liverpool’s midfield makeover and the players’ increased responsibility for roles like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool, who are still vying for all four trophies, will face Fulham on Wednesday in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal. However, Alexander-Arnold, a vital defender, suffered a knee ligament injury during the FA Cup third-round victory against Arsenal, therefore he will be out of the lineup for the next three weeks.

When asked how Klopp rejuvenated Liverpool for this season, Lijnders responded, “There is no good manager without good ownership.” “It’s encouraging that the ownership made the necessary investments in the team.” The manager and coaching staff get energised when you deal with fresh players and have to reiterate the concept because you bring power, energy, talent, and youthful players. That’s one thing, then.

The fact that we actually drew a line before the preseason began is the second—and most likely most significant—thing. I joked that I would punch someone in the face if they were being negative in this building. I told each and every one of them as much. merely to confirm that nothing was carried across.

After the preseason began, we had every player available for a considerable amount of time. Many important players, including seniors who were always the leaders, left, so other players, like Mo Salah, Virgil, Alisson, and Trent, had to stand up. They did, and it showed. After that, you could begin practicing three times a day, something we didn’t do before. A voice inside of them said, “We have to go through this because we want to succeed.”

“These things are important and helpful, but success is also required. Even when you doubt your ability to win, you must prevail in games. Newcastle away was a huge one because of this. That builds up steam. The team performed exceptionally well when it mattered most.

Lijnders thinks that Curtis Jones’s growth has contributed to the comeback along with better centre defence distribution.

“I don’t want to talk about the new players all the time because Curtis did as good of a job for the team at the end of last season as a new signing,” he stated. “I don’t know if it’s because he comes from the academy, but he doesn’t get the credit he deserves.”

“What does not often get seen is that our center-halves are playing much better with the ball,” the speaker continued. They are playing at a level that we wanted, if you look at how close they are to the offensive and how they are jumping in with the inside or outside pass. They are significantly altering the situation.

Despite the fact that Alexander-Arnold’s injury is a setback for Liverpool, the winter break and domestic cup schedule allowed him to miss just one Premier League match, against Bournemouth. According to Lijnders, left-backs Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, who have injuries to their collarbones and shoulders, respectively, may make a comeback by the end of the month.

Obviously, 2023 didn’t exactly go as planned, did it?

After the wild ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, our prime minister here in the UK, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence, not to mention professionalism, honesty, and accountability. Do you recall Liz? She appears to be a long-gone comic act these days. Rather, Sunak descended even more into the Conservative psychodrama through the looking-glass.

There have been no better pictures elsewhere. Donald Trump is currently a lot of people’s pick to win the US presidency once more. The conflict in Ukraine has continued with little sign of resolution. It’s all too easy to see how the rest of the world could become weary of the fight and lose interest. In addition, there is the Middle East conflict and the climatic catastrophe.

But optimism is renewed with a new year. Numerous nations, including the US and the UK, are holding elections. We must have hope for change. that a better solution is achievable. The Guardian will keep reporting on happenings worldwide because it feels particularly vital right now. However, maintaining a news gathering organisation is not inexpensive.