Liverpool have been a phenomenal team for a number of years now. They have been performing at the very apex of European football since the 2017/18 season and would likely boast a far larger trophy haul during this period if they did not happen to share a domestic calendar with Manchester City.
For as fantastic as Liverpool have been, there has always been one area where it was thought they were lacking.
For as dominant as their first XI was, there was a sense that they perhaps did not have the squad depth to compete on all fronts over the course of an entire season. When two or three first choice players came out the standard of their replacements dipped dramatically. That has largely been the difference between themselves and City over the last couple of seasons.
That now seems to be changing, with Jurgen Klopp hoping that last night's victory over Inter Milan could be a sign of things to come for this team.
Liverpool's win over Inter Milan could kick off new era at Anfield
While the Merseyside club would emerge from the San Siro with a 2-0 win, the 90 minutes were nowhere near as comfortable as the scoreline may suggest. For the first hour or so there was very little between the sides. In fact, it was the home team who had arguably crafted the better scoring opportunities.
The one small thing you could often criticise Jurgen Klopp on during his time at Anfield has been his hesitancy to make substitutions. He often seemed to put off making changes until the 70 minute mark, even if things were clearly not going well for his side.
There were no such issues last night. Having being forced into replacing Diogo Jota with Roberto Firmino at halftime due to injury, he would then make a triple substitution just before the hour mark. On came Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, and Luis Diaz for Harvey Elliott, Fabinho, and Sadio Mane.
These switches completely changed the game. Liverpool had far more energy throughout the pitch, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and scoring the two decisive goals. Firmino also contributed with the all important opener.
𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗢! ⚽️🇧🇷
A HUGE goal for Liverpool in the San Siro 💪#INTLIV #UCL pic.twitter.com/0olJ4UsxDa— Watch the UCL on LiveScore 🇮🇪 (@LiveScoreIE) February 16, 2022
This could be our first real glimpse at a new look Liverpool moving forward.
The truth is likely that Klopp was never hesitant to make in game alterations, it was that he felt he did not have the quality on the bench that was necessary to redirect the course of a game. It is difficult to make changes up front when you were replacing one of the much heralded front three with Divock Origi or Takumi Minamino.
With the addition of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz over the last 18 months, he now has five top class players for those three positions, all of whom offer a bit of something different. The result is that the manager can slightly alter his approach on a game by game basis, while also having the ability to make positive changes from the bench.
As for the midfield, that area of the squad is also at the strongest it has been since Klopp's arrival. Fabinho is arguably the best holding midfielder in world football, while Thiago brings a huge amount of experience and poise on the ball. Add the likes of Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, and James Milner to the emerging talents of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones and you've got quite the selection in that area.
At centre back, they have the commanding quartet of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, and Ibrhima Konate. Konate has been used sparingly since arriving last summer but has massively impressed whenever he has played, including in last night's fixture.
An incredible performance from @IbrahimaKonate_ tonight ⛔💪 pic.twitter.com/owMyEqUib2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 16, 2022
In all, Jurgen Klopp now has the squad depth that he has always craved.
Having a clean bill of health doesn't hurt. In fact, the last couple of fixtures have represented the first occasions that Liverpool have had a full squad to choose from since early in the 2019/20 season. That will certainly be key moving forward.
Unlike in years gone by, Liverpool have the depth to compete with any team in European football. It should make for a compelling second half of the season both domestically and on the continent.
SEE ALSO: Roberto Firmino Shows He Won't Give Up Place Without A Fight
