A month or two into Jurgen Klopp’s reign as Liverpool manager and, believe it or not, the word coming back from Melwood was not entirely encouraging.



One senior player had recognised the pattern of the working day was all a bit predictable. And if he was confiding in outsiders already, then the matter was probably also being discussed in the changing room.



Klopp was respected for his achievements elsewhere and liked – his personality had already made an enormous impression. “But,” as the player told me, “we pretty much do the same thing day after day.”



This led to further conversations and it became apparent through listening to those who knew Klopp far better that this was his method and that he was watching closely for those who did not buy into it. He is cut from a cloth of management that holds faith in repetition within a collective, because he believes it is the best way to ensure a team performs as though it is...