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Fitness guru Verheijen predicts Liverpool injury crisis, blames Klopp methods
By London correspondent Tony Hughes
Fitness guru Raymond Verheijen has blamed Jurgen Klopp’s “amateur” training methods for Liverpool’s mounting injury problems and predicted another injury crisis at the club.
Daniel Sturridge (hip) and James Milner (heel) became the club’s latest injury concerns following the Merseysiders’ 4-0 demolition of Barcelona at Wembley on Sunday.
Sturridge missed the game with what Liverpool called a “minor hip injury”, and Klopp conceded Milner was a major worry after he limped off moments before half-time.
“It is not too good, it’s something to do with his heel,” said the Reds boss, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo. “He will have a scan and then we will know more.”
The England internationals join an injury list that includes Mamadou Sakho, Joe Gomez, Loris Karius and Lucas Leiva. Divock Origi and Alberto Moreno have also suffered minor strains.
Dutch expert Verheijen criticised Klopp for starting Emre Can and Adam Lallana against Barcelona, flying the team over to Germany and then starting the same two key men less than 24 hours later against Mainz.
“The Klopp amateurism is a great example to young coaches on how not to do things,” said Verheijen on his personal Twitter account. “As explained before, the characteristic of phase three of pre-season (injury crisis phase) is overplaying tired players.”
Verheijen is an advocate of the ‘less is more’ periodisation philosophy, methods which he has used with great success with Holland, Russia, South Korea, Wales and the Dutch FA, as well as Barcelona, Chelsea, Zenit St Petersburg and Manchester City.
He sent a series of messages on Twitter on Saturday and Sunday in which he explained why he felt Liverpool were suffering so many injuries.
As predicted, Liverpool is entering the 3rd phase of pre-season:
the INJURY CRISIS phase.https://t.co/4RoPw7WFYs pic.twitter.com/NoCq8s5eIN— Raymond Verheijen (@raymondverheije) August 6, 2016
“Daniel Sturridge suffers ANOTHER injury blow” https://t.co/787HuYKXuM
— Raymond Verheijen (@raymondverheije) August 6, 2016
Why do these patterns happen over and over again?
Because of denial, blaming external factors, focussing on exception of the rule, etc, etc.— Raymond Verheijen (@raymondverheije) August 6, 2016
More amateurism by Liverpool manager Klopp:
Can & Lallana started v Barca yesterday & will start again today v Mainz pic.twitter.com/rGs6dedawg— Raymond Verheijen (@raymondverheije) August 7, 2016
As explained before, the characteristic of phase 3 of pre-season (injury crisis phase) is overplaying tired players pic.twitter.com/VqALHod1YQ
— Raymond Verheijen (@raymondverheije) August 7, 2016
The Klopp amateurism is a great lesson for young coaches how not to do things:
Barca game -> 90 min flight -> Mainz game within 24 hours.— Raymond Verheijen (@raymondverheije) August 7, 2016
Verheijen has a history of attacking training methods used by English clubs and has been particularly critical of the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in previous seasons.
In other Liverpool team news, Klopp hinted at his starting X1 for the team’s Premier League opener against Arsenal.