In a recent interview with The Athletic, Graham, the former Liverpool Head of Research, delved into Jurgen Klopp's growing influence at Liverpool and how the change has impacted the club's decision-making patterns, particularly with regards to the transfer decision for Darwin Nunez. Graham also shared the reasoning behind his departure, namely exhaustion caused by long hours of work in high-pressure environments.
Graham noted that Klopp was impressed with Nunez's impressive performance against Liverpool in the Champions League, which largely drove Liverpool to sign the Uruguayan striker from Benfica for a whopping £64 million. However, Graham believes the decision does not fit Liverpool's usual stats-oriented model and has expressed concerns over Nunez's compatibility with the team's current style of play.
"Nunez did perform well against Liverpool, but this does not directly prove that he is suitable for Liverpool's tactical system." Graham said, "He's a typical No.9 and has a very different style to Firmino. What we need to consider is whether we are willing to change our style or formation for him and whether he is good enough to warrant those changes."
Graham further explained that Liverpool, when bringing in players, not only look at the player's ability, but also consider whether they are suitable for the team's overall tactics and lineup configuration. He mentioned a list of "great but unsuitable players" for Liverpool, including defensive wing-backs, traditional wingers and other types of players, because these types of players do not fit Liverpool's style of play.
Regarding Klopp's influence, Graham said that with Klopp's increased power and influence at Liverpool, the club's decision-making model has indeed undergone some changes. But he also emphasized that such changes are not necessarily negative, and that the key lies in how to balance the manager's wishes with the club's long-term plans.
In addition, Graham revealed the reason for his departure. He stated that after working at Liverpool for many years, he felt that the time had come for him to take a break and take on new challenges. He referred to his experience of working with former colleagues such as Michael Edwards and Julian Ward, and admitted that while his time at Liverpool was full of passion, it was also accompanied by a great deal of stress and exhaustion.
