Jürgen Klopp's decision to add a throw-in coach to his staff has been much maligned in certain footballing circles, but left-back Andrew Robertson says that the addition is already having an impact at the club.
Thomas Gronnemark has been noted for his work with Danish sides FC Midtjylland and AC Horsens, both of whom scored 10 goals each directly from throw-ins last season.
Robertson says that Klopp signalled out throw-ins as an area the team had to improve on the season, having surrendered possession form such situations far too often last term.
The manager has probably looked back on last season and it was a very positive one season for us, getting to the final of the Champions League and finishing in the top four.
But the one negative he seen was we surrendered possession when we had throw-ins.
It is effectively like a pass. He looked at it and thought how am I going to change this and he brought this guy in and already in the first four games we have been a lot better at it.
It is the small gains that can make big differences.
Gronnemark also holds the world-record for the longest recorded throw-in, standing at a staggering 51.33 metres.
While the team as a whole is now better organised from throw-in situations, Robertson himself has already added six metres onto his throwing distance.
We are switched on when it comes to throw-ins - everyone is in better positions that we are finding easier, and the lads’ techniques have got better.
We all got measured and I was one of the worst, but since the day he came in until now I think I’ve gained about six metres.
We have all bought into it and we are all improving and are a lot more accurate. I think it is a positive things and it has definitely worked for us.
Bringing such a coach into a club might seem laughable to some, but it is clear that it was done so with a clear goal in mind.
With the near unlimited resources available at a Premier League club, why would they not try to improve on every possible area of the game?
At such a high level no stone should be left unturned.
