Liverpool Look To Specialist Coach For Assistance With Throw-Ins

No stone left unturned in the quest to maximize competitive advantages in the league.

Look out Lijnders, Krawietz, Achterberg and Co., there’s a new-ish coach on the Liverpool staff, and he’s here to steal your role as the next behind-the-scenes cult fan favorite/all-purpose scapegoat.

The Liverpool Echo and other outlets have reported that Jürgen Klopp has appointed Thomas Gronnemark from Denmark on a part-time basis to work with squad on throw-ins. Gronnemark has been focusing on technique and positioning, with the overall goal of initiating more attacking moves as well as minimizing errors from throw-ins. Klopp had apparently sought outside help after noticing a propensity for losing possession after throws.

Gronnemark’s prior experience includes work with Schalke 04, Hertha Berlin, and most notably Midtjylland. With Liverpool, his session have apparently been primarily with defenders Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno, but midfielders James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum have also participated.

“Midtjylland have showed that the long throw-in can be a weapon, if you can do it with the correct technique, precision and tactical awareness,” the new coach is quoted as saying. Unsurprisingly, Gronnemark is also the world record holder for longest throw-in. While it’s possible we may see long throws become a part of the Liverpool toolkit this season, it’s not the sole aspect Gronnemark and Klopp are hoping to improve.

As noted above, one of the concerns is that throw-ins have led to losses of possession, and with there being approximately 50 throw-ins taken or defended per match, it’s an area that Klopp has identified as being worth putting in the work. All signs from the first weeks of the Premier League indicate that the competition is as tough as ever, so every little bit of help will count.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com