FSG prepares “new Liverpool” as Jurgen Klopp approves new departure and changes are on the way

Thomas Grønnemark ends his spell at Liverpool after five years after Michael Edwards, Julian Ward and Ian Graham were all dismissed.

In 2018, Liverpool made a relatively curious deal, signing Thomas Grønnemark as a freelance manager. The Dane was brought in to address a specific element of the game, establishing himself as arguably the first throw-in coach of his kind.

When Grønnemark arrived at Anfield, the Reds were 18th in the Premier League as they kept possession under pressure immediately after a flick-in, but after years of working with him the players have risen to the top of the English league with similar numbers in the top flight. Since Liverpool signed his services, 25 professional clubs have signed him, taking into account the advantage of Jürgen Klopp. “Let’s go, we have nothing to lose this year. So why not start with the new LFC now? I’m really happy with it. It’s very special.

The idea of ​​a new era on Merseyside is daunting, especially given the success of recent years. Grønnemark isn’t the only figure who won’t be there next season, as many others will leave – or have already left – in the coming months.

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Michael Edwards, for example, helped Klopp assemble the elite team that rose to the top of the sport a few years ago. The former Reds sporting director is currently untied by any club after leaving his post at Anfield last summer, but he has been integral to Liverpool’s meteoric rise, acquiring the likes of Mohamed Salah, Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson from the transfer market .

His internal successor, Julian Ward, announced his sensational dismissal at the beginning of this season. He would ensure a seamless transition from one sporting director to another, but for unknown reasons he will step down at the end of the season, with Jörg Schmadtke as his surprise replacement.

Ian Graham has been Liverpool’s director of research for the past decade. The Welshman built Anfield’s data science department from the ground up and assembled a team of experts to deconstruct the chaotic sport of football led by Fenway Sports Group, which has sought to bolster a similar fact-based culture to the one it produced success in Boston.

The Reds have been linked to ‘Moneyball’ practices and data-driven recruiting during Klopp’s tenure, but Liverpool’s so-called ‘statsman’ – according to Edwards – will also leave in the summer and Graham will be replaced internally by Will Spearman.

Real change and turmoil is happening in Merseyside, and it is both scary and exciting at the same time. Liverpool are in need of fresh ideas and fresh motivation this season, but to usher in the new era several high-profile players are leaving Anfield,  to key players such as James Milner and Roberto Firmino.

Klopp faces an enormous challenge to sail in the next 12 months, but if he is successful he will go down in history for overseeing two golden eras in Merseyside, which would be extraordinary as many of his predecessors failed to achieve one. 

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