by James Nalton

AFTER two games in charge of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp'’s plan is beginning to take shape, even if its execution still requires plenty of work.

In his first match at Anfield on Thursday, the German manager sent out a similar team to the one which earned a point and a clean-sheet away at Spurs. Joe Allen came in for Lucas Leiva in an alteration which only lasted until half-time when the Welshman was withdrawn.

The system remained the same, however, and it’s likely to do so when Southampton visit Anfield tomorrow. Intense pressing at key moments is combined with a slightly more urgent attack than the one seen under Brendan Rodgers.

The team still have problems being clinical in the final third but, again, this is due to a lack of execution as opposed to a lack of ideas.

The answers to Klopp’s first conundrum may be waiting in the wings, as Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke are yet to see any considerable playing time under the new manager due to injury.

The latter two players came off the bench in Thursday’s Europa League game, when the Reds failed to defeat a Rubin Kazan side who played with 10 men from the 36th minute.

Despite adopting a more attacking shape as the game progressed, Liverpool were unable to add to Emre Can’s first-half equaliser.

Shots rained down on the Kop from all angles as the game descended into the cold October night. The home side won numerous corner-kicks but still failed to score.

Klopp described the game as “not a masterclass, but not the worst day of my life.”

He added: “I think tonight, they [the fans] had moments they could enjoy, moments where the players brought their whole heart on the pitch. That’s what everybody wants. It was not boring.”

Those fans will be keenly anticipating the next fixture under their charismatic new manager, but when they face Southampton tomorrow, they’d like to see their team ripple those famous red nets.