Jose Mourinho is right – Jurgen Klopp built £120m luxury against the odds

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Jose Mourinho spoke of the luxury Jurgen Klopp now has at Liverpool – unpredictability. The Reds have created it against the odds, though.

Mourinho was talking ahead of Saturday’s meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. That’s a game where the Spurs boss feels few people believe in his side – in fact, he highlighted the Reds’ force in doing so.

And one of the reasons for that lack of belief is the weapons at Klopp’s disposal, such as his unpredictability.

“I think he has so much in his hands that he can be what he wants,” Mourinho said, per Spurs’ youtube. “[Klopp] can play with [Roberto] Firmino as a nine, he can play with Firmino as a ten.

“He can play with [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mane wide, he can play Salah and Mane as strikers with Firmino dropping back. He can play [Xherdan] Shaqiri and decide to change lots of things, he can play [Divock] Origi – he has so many things to do.

“It is more difficult for anyone who plays against them because of that potential for unpredictability.”

It’s a brilliant luxury for Klopp, as Mourinho says, and one he tends to use more as a threat than anything else. In all likelihood, it’ll be 4-3-3 with Salah and Mane wide and Firmino vacating the space for them.

But it might not be, as Mourinho points out. That small chance and potential for change keeps every opponent on their toes.

What’s truly remarkable about it all is that Liverpool built this without spending enormous amounts of money. Even without buying lots of players and selling a star against their wishes.

There’s an established front-three signed for under £100m (Firmino – £29m, Mane – £34m, Salah – £34m) and two backup options bought for a little over £20m (Origi – £10m, Shaqiri – £13m).

It’s only five players and only £120m spent – less than Philippe Coutinho left for. When you compare that to the options and spending of Manchester City, Liverpool having that unpredictability is incredible.

It’s a vital part of why the Reds are currently the best team in the world.