James Pearce has revealed in The Athletic how FSG listened to Jurgen Klopp’s complaints and rejuvenated Anfield’s pitch.
What’s the story?
Following Liverpool’s draw against Southampton in 2017, the 52-year-old boss complained about the state of the club’s playing surface. He said: “I know nobody wants to hear it but I am brave enough to say it. The pitch was really dry. In a possession game, you need to have the best circumstances, if possible, in a home game especially, but we couldn’t have this. That’s nobody’s fault. It is not what I want. To be successful you have to have a fortress at home”.
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Pearce explains what course of action FSG then took as Liverpool’s owners funded the installation of a state-of-the-art GrassMaster pitch at Anfield: “Fenway Sports Group (FSG) took action, sanctioning a multi-million pound investment in the club’s infrastructure that summer. To say that the owners have had a decent return on that outlay would be something of an understatement.”
Paid dividends
The playing surface is something that is often overlooked in football. It is not uncommon to hear comments indicating that players at the highest level should be able to play on any pitch put in front of them – back in the day, they played on a lot worse than what is on offer now.
However, amongst the elite, the smallest of things can make all of the difference, so the condition of the field on which the game is played really should be able to decide matches. Looking at the results since said investment – the work was completed by the start of the 2017/18 season, and FSG’s investment has certainly paid dividends.
During the 2016/17 campaign, Liverpool lost three Premier League matches at Anfield. Since then? They have won 42 and drawn nine – yes, that’s right, they have not lost once in the top tier. There really could not be any more convincing proof that the work done to the facilities has been a complete success.
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Klopp is not the only manager to complain about the state of the pitch in the past – his equivalent at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, has also made such comments. Whilst the former Borussia Dortmund manager cannot control the other grounds across the country, he has the power to receive exactly what he wants at home.
FSG’s investment really has changed the game at Anfield.
Meanwhile, this man was Liverpool’s weak link against Newcastle.
