Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The statisticians at OPTA provided proof if any was needed of the Jurgen Klopp effect on Liverpool.

The Reds covered a combined total of 116km during Saturday’s goalless stalemate with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

That’s more than any team has managed in the Premier League so far this season and 4km more than Liverpool’s previous biggest shift against Norwich City at Anfield last month.

Liverpool made 50 more sprints than Spurs (614 to 564) and became the first side to run further than Mauricio Pochettino’s men this season.

It was an impressive show of commitment, unity and organisation in the capital, especially considering the Reds’ crippling injury crisis and the lack of preparation time.

Liverpool have quickly embraced the pressing game Klopp had demanded. Unsurprisingly, they couldn’t maintain the blistering tempo of the opening 25 minutes against Tottenham, but they remained compact and resolute throughout.

No wonder Klopp, who was deep in conversation with German tennis legend Boris Becker prior to boarding the team bus outside White Hart Lane, declared himself satisfied with a share of the spoils.

In the face of adversity, Liverpool dug deep and the new boss has something to build on. Having overseen a performance packed full of perspiration, the challenge facing Klopp at Melwood this week is to inject some much needed inspiration.

Russian outfit Rubin Kazan provide the opposition as he prepares for his Anfield bow in the Europa League on Thursday night. That kicks off a run of three home games in the space of six days with Southampton in the league and Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup to follow.

Time to work on the training ground at Melwood remains tight and Klopp’s in-tray is bulging as he reflects on the lessons learned from his first game at the helm.

Instilling confidence remains a challenge.

The major plus was that Liverpool didn’t wilt under pressure as they secured a first clean sheet in nine matches.

However, in possession there was still an alarming lack of composure. Far too many passes went astray as moments of real promise came to nothing.

“The problem was when we had the ball. We weren’t good enough, we didn’t use our skills, we were too hectic,” Klopp admitted. “We didn’t see the right option.”

It was all too rushed, too frenetic. Klopp doesn’t want Liverpool to sit on possession and slow the game down but neither does he want it tossed away so cheaply.

Belief had ebbed away during the closing stages of Brendan Rodgers’ reign and the new man is battling to get it back. That won’t happen overnight.

IN PICS: Spurs 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool need players to climb off the treatment table in order to rediscover their attacking spark

The Reds only created one golden chance at White Hart Lane and that came from a set-piece as Divock Origi’s header crashed against the underside of the bar.

Philippe Coutinho was quiet but he was hardly helped by the lack of a willing runner in front of him. Adam Lallana ran himself into the ground but had little influence in the final third.

Fortunately for Klopp, reinforcements are on the way. Daniel Sturridge, Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino are all expected to be back in full training this week.

Sturridge’s absence against Spurs due to a swollen knee was a worry, just three appearances into his comeback after five months out following hip surgery.

The striker’s low pain threshold was a regular source of frustration for Rodgers. Now he must convince the new manager he can be relied upon.

Klopp expects Sturridge to be back available for Rubin Kazan on Thursday and it will be intriguing to see how he adapts to the work-load expected of him.

Benteke was bought to play with Sturridge but that partnership has yet to get off the ground with the duo having spent just 45 minutes alongside each other so far this season.

Klopp also has Firmino to factor into the equation. The £29million Brazilian has struggled following his move from Hoffenheim but Klopp rates him highly and believes he can get the best out of him.

The new formation worked

Klopp was always going to ditch Rodgers’ three-man backline but his choice of 4-3-2-1 was interesting, considering that 4-2-3-1 was his preferred system at Dortmund,

Liverpool looked at ease with the new set-up and a number of players grasped the chance to impress.

Klopp had made a point of talking up that he had a “great keeper” at his unveiling and if it was a ploy to bolster Simon Mignolet’s spirits then it seems to have done the trick as he made a trio of fine saves against Spurs.

In front of the Belgian shot-stopper, Mamadou Sakho was by far Liverpool’s most outstanding performer. Fellow centre-back Martin Skrtel was less convincing and had problems with Harry Kane, but Klopp will have been delighted by the contribution of full-backs Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno.

His midfield trio saw James Milner and Emre Can operating either side of Lucas Leiva. Milner and Can were primarily tasked with shutting down Danny Rose and Kyle Walker.

Can was the pick of the bunch and looks to be the player most energised by Klopp’s appointment.

The German international found himself shunted all over the place under Rodgers - from centre-back to wing-back to full-back - pretty much anywhere apart from the midfield role Liverpool paid Bayer Leverkusen £10million for him to play.

On occasions Can has looked too cumbersome to operate in the centre of the field due to the pace of the Premier League, but at White Hart Lane he played with an energy and a dynamism Kopites hadn’t seen from him previously as he thundered into tackles and broke forward with menace.

In fact Liverpool looked much more combative across the field as Klopp patrolled the touchline and repeatedly demanded more.

The only concern with a midfield of Lucas, Milner and Can is that Klopp has too many destroyers and not enough creators. Certainly, the return of captain Jordan Henderson next month will certainly provide better balance.

Klopp has already got Liverpool out-running opponents, now comes the greater task of out-playing them.

What must Klopp do next? Leave your comments below.