Heskey: "It’s a Journey Not a Sprint"

After the crushing 5-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday, it is hard to find many positive aspects to the second half unravelling with ten men. It was clear, however, that Liverpool were very much in the game until Sadio Mané was sent off. Only the harrowing 6-1 thumping inflicted by Stoke City matches the margin of defeat in the Premier League era, but the Champions League group game against Sevilla at Anfield should be more than enough to restore focus among the squad.

At the centre of a red recovery will be Jürgen Klopp, a manager whose methods should be largely trusted and supported. That’s the opinion of former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey who shared his thoughts on a patience being rewarded under a manager who is approaching squad building "the right way" at a time of fierce competition to even retain a top four spot in the Premier League.

"You always want the club to keep buying players to improve all the time," Heskey pointed out. “He is doing that, but it’s a journey not a sprint.

"You have got to understand people just want them to go and buy, but you can’t just buy all the time. I think he is doing it the right way and taking his time with it."

There is also something to be said for recruiting players in key positions of weakness that have held the team back in recent years. Liverpool’s attacking options far outstrip the defensive ones in terms of quality and depth, but Klopp’s way is to develop and improve players. His character and charisma will be crucial to getting Liverpool back kn track.

"The one thing I do love about Klopp is the enthusiasm that he shows," Heskey said in praise of a manager that will reach his two-year anniversary as Liverpool manager next month. "That’s what the fans love. He kicks every ball with them, heads every ball with them and scores every goal with them.

"It would have been great (working with Klopp). Playing alongside some of those lads as well. They are so quick. Maybe at 22 I would have kept up with them!

"I was lucky enough to play with the likes of Stevie (Gerrard), and all Michael (Owen) and I had to do was make runs and he’d find you.

"Coutinho has got that as well. You have Mo Salah running down the wing, beating people and just putting balls in. It would be great to play with them."

Here’s to restoring that winning and exiciting feeling Liverpool had before the international break. With Klopp as Liverpool manager, that won’t be a problem.