Jermain Defoe spoke about Jurgen Klopp on Goals on Sunday and what the German coach wanted to know when he first came in as Liverpool manager.
It’s common knowledge that Liverpool’s style of play thrives on the fitness of the eleven players on the pitch and the work they put in to win the ball back for the duration of a game. Jurgen Klopp is famed for his geggenpressing system and the success it yielded in Germany and Europe in his time with Borussia Dortmund.
When he arrived at Liverpool, Jermain Defoe believes the thing he was first interested in finding out was who was the fittest player at the club.
The Black Cats ace said on Goals on Sunday, via the Daily Star, “Apparently when Klopp went in, I think the first question he asked the staff was, ‘Who’s the fittest player at the club?’
“I think they said Lallana.
“I think what he wanted to do was to get everyone at that level and that’s the first question he asked, nothing about the football.
“I think he just wanted to get everyone at that level.”
Adam Lallana missed the game against Sunderland with an injury he picked up on international duty but his absence was felt and Defoe is not wrong to suggest that Lallana is Liverpool’s fittest player. The Englishman’s tenacity and energy are essential to the way Liverpool play and without him there is a definite drop in intensity.
With a trip to Bournemouth on Sunday on the cards, Lallana is being tipped to make his return and with Liverpool’s players dropping like flies, his return will be very welcome. Liverpool are second in the league with 30 points from 13 games and have scored the most goals in the division and will be looking to remain unbeaten.