The dressing room door closed behind the last Liverpool player, leaving the roar of Anfield muffled beneath the concrete walls.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Boots scraped against the floor. Water bottles hissed as players opened them, and the familiar smell of damp grass, sweat and athletic tape filled the room. Some players leaned forward with their elbows resting on their knees. Others remained standing, drinking water while members of the medical staff checked on the players who had taken knocks during the 1st half.
Liverpool were leading 3-0.
Abdul Azim had scored twice, once after dismantling Southampton's defensive line with a series of deceptive movements and again with a left-footed half-volley from approximately 40 metres. Philippe Coutinho had added a free-kick after Virgil van Dijk's late challenge on Adam Lallana, who had subsequently been substituted because of the discomfort in his ankle.
The scoreline was excellent.
The performance, however, had room for improvement.
Jürgen Klopp stood near the tactical board, his hands resting on his hips as he looked around the room. He was pleased with the result so far, but there was no complacency in his expression. Southampton had already demonstrated that they could threaten through Sadio Mané's movement, Pellè's physical presence and the accurate delivery of their wide players.
A careless 2nd half could still allow the match to become uncomfortable.
Klopp waited until the room settled.
"All right, boys. Look at me."
The conversations faded.
"3-0. Very good. We have worked for this, and we have earned it. But listen carefully. The game is not finished simply because the scoreboard looks beautiful."
A few players smiled.
Klopp did not.
"Southampton will change something. Koeman is not going to sit there and accept that we have scored 3 goals. They will try to move the ball faster, they will try to find Mané behind our full-backs, and they will try to bring Pellè into the game with crosses. If we become lazy because we are winning, we will give them an opportunity."
He turned towards the tactical board.
"That is the first thing. We defend together. We attack together. We do not become 11 different players because we are happy with the score."
Milner nodded.
Lucas leaned forward, listening.
Klopp picked up a marker and drew Southampton's 2 central midfielders, followed by their line of defenders.
"They want to keep the centre compact. They want to stop Azim receiving between the lines, and when he gets the ball, they want somebody close enough to prevent him from turning. Van Dijk has been following him, Wanyama has been stepping out, and Fonte has been covering behind them."
He looked towards Azim.
"How does that make you feel?"
Azim had been drinking water.
He lowered the bottle and considered the question.
"Annoying."
A brief laugh moved through the room.
Klopp smiled.
"Good. At least you are honest."
"They are following me everywhere. Sometimes I move 5 metres and Van Dijk moves 5 metres. I change direction, he changes direction. I drop towards Lucas, he comes forward. I move into the channel, and he starts looking at the channel before the pass even comes."
"Exactly." Klopp tapped the board. "And why are they doing this?"
"Because I scored twice."
"Yes. And because they are afraid of what happens when you receive the ball facing their goal."
Azim nodded.
Klopp drew a small circle between Southampton's midfield and defence.
"This is the space they do not want you to use. If you receive here and turn, you can attack the centre-backs. They know that. So they have decided to follow you, but that decision costs them something."
He drew an arrow away from the circle.
"Space."
Klopp looked around the room.
"If Van Dijk follows Azim, somebody must cover the space he leaves. If Wanyama comes forward, somebody must protect the space behind him. If both of them move towards the same player, who is available?"
"Firmino," Can answered.
"Or Coutinho," Milner added.
"Or whoever recognises the space first," Klopp said. "That is the important part. We do not need every player to remain in 1 position until the ball arrives. We need players to understand one another, recognise the moment and move."
He turned towards the board again.
"Azim, you will have freedom. More freedom than you had in the 1st half."
Azim raised his eyebrows.
"Freedom?"
"Yes. You are the centre-forward, but you do not need to stand between the 2 centre-backs for 90 minutes. If the space is available on the left, move there. If you can draw Van Dijk away from the centre, do it. If dropping towards Lucas allows you to receive and connect with the midfield, drop."
Klopp underlined the space between the midfield and defence.
"Your responsibility is not to occupy 1 patch of grass. Your responsibility is to make the attack work."
Azim looked at the board.
He had spent most of the 1st half fighting Van Dijk for room. When he received the ball, he had repeatedly found the defender close enough to prevent him from turning. He had responded by trying to escape through changes of direction, using his body to protect possession and looking for opportunities to exploit his telekinesis.
Some of those decisions had worked.
Others had not.
Now Klopp was asking him to think beyond the duel.
If Van Dijk followed him, he could create space for somebody else. If the defender held his position, Azim could receive between the lines. If Southampton committed 2 players to stopping him, Liverpool could use the extra man elsewhere.
The answer was not to beat Van Dijk every time.
The answer was to make Van Dijk's decision difficult.
"Can I ask something?" Can said.
Klopp turned towards him.
"Of course."
"If Azim moves wide and Van Dijk follows him, what happens if Southampton's full-back also stays deep? We might draw their centre-back out, but there could still be 2 players waiting in the channel."
"Good question." Klopp pointed towards the board. "We do not decide the next pass before we see the opponent's response. If the full-back stays deep, we can use the space outside him. If he follows Azim, the winger can attack behind him. If the midfielder comes across to cover, then somebody in our midfield becomes free."
He drew 3 arrows.
"Movement creates options. It does not guarantee that the option will be available. We must read what happens."
Clyne raised his hand slightly.
"And if we lose the ball while everyone is moving forward?"
Klopp nodded approvingly.
"That is the other side of it. We cannot attack with 7 players ahead of the ball and expect our defenders to solve everything alone. Lucas and Can must protect the centre. The full-backs must recognise when the opposite full-back is already advancing. If Clyne goes, Moreno must consider his position. If we lose possession, the nearest players press immediately, and the others protect the dangerous spaces."
He looked towards Lucas.
"You cannot be everywhere."
Lucas nodded.
"I know."
"Good. Then do not try. Stay connected to Can, watch the space behind the attacking midfielders and communicate. If the press is beaten, delay their counterattack. Force them towards the side. Give our defenders time to recover."
Klopp turned back towards Azim.
"And you begin that work."
Azim nodded.
It made sense. His position at the front could determine the direction of the entire press. If he blocked the central route and encouraged the ball towards one side, his teammates could move forward together. If he rushed directly at the ball and allowed the opponent to play through the centre, Liverpool might find themselves defending a counterattack with their midfield scattered across the pitch.
Klopp put the marker down.
"Now, tell me something else. What did you see in the 1st half?"
Azim glanced at the players around him.
There were several things he could have mentioned. Van Dijk's persistent marking. Wanyama's willingness to step forward. Southampton's tendency to use Mané's pace whenever Liverpool's right side became exposed.
But one problem had bothered him more than the others.
"Several times, I had the chance to play a through ball, but there was nobody running into the channel."
Coutinho looked towards him.
Azim continued.
"Not every time. Some of the passes were blocked, and sometimes the space wasn't there. But there were moments when I received the ball, saw the defender stepping towards me and knew somebody could run behind him. I looked up, and everyone was standing in front of the defensive line."
Milner nodded slowly.
He had noticed some of those moments as well.
Azim pointed towards the tactical board.
"If I have the ball and you want to score, run into the channel. Don't wait for me to look at you. Don't worry if I don't turn my head. If you can see the space, attack it. I will try to find you."
Can leaned back on the bench.
"You want us to run without knowing whether you will pass?"
"Yes."
"That sounds like a very convenient arrangement for you."
Azim looked at him.
"You get to score. I get the assist. Everybody is happy."
Coutinho laughed.
Milner shook his head, though he was smiling.
"Only if the pass arrives."
"It will arrive if you make the run."
"And if it doesn't?" Can asked.
"Then you keep running until the ball goes out, the goalkeeper catches it or the referee stops play."
Can stared at him.
Azim shrugged.
"You asked."
A whistle came from the far side of the dressing room.
Sakho had pursed his lips and produced a loud, theatrical whistle, drawing several amused looks from his teammates.
"Listen to him!" the centre-back said. "Our #36 has become a football professor. Next, he'll ask us to submit assignments before training."
Laughter moved through the room.
Azim pointed towards Sakho.
"You can submit yours late. I will still find you."
"In English, please," Sakho replied with exaggerated seriousness. "Some of us are trying to understand your tactical revolution."
"Your English is better than your defending."
The room erupted.
Sakho sat upright.
"Excuse me?"
Can covered his mouth.
Coutinho looked towards the ceiling, laughing.
Sakho pressed a hand against his chest.
"I have just been insulted by a teenager who believes he can pass through walls."
"Only when the walls are badly positioned," Azim replied.
Even Lucas laughed at that.
Sakho shook his head, but his expression was warm.
"All right, Professor. Find me a goal, and I will forgive you."
Azim pointed towards the tactical board.
"Run first."
Klopp allowed the amusement to continue for another moment before raising his voice.
"Enough. But Azim has a point. If we want fluid football, we must trust the movement of our teammates."
He looked towards Coutinho and Firmino.
"You 2 can change positions. Firmino, you can come short or move beyond Azim. Coutinho, you can move inside and combine with the midfield, but do not both occupy the same space. Milner, you must decide when to support from the right and when to protect the centre."
Milner nodded.
"Understood."
Klopp turned towards Firmino.
"What do you think?"
Firmino had been quiet, listening to the discussion. He rested his forearms on his knees and looked towards the tactical board.
"We can make them turn around too much."
Klopp gestured for him to continue.
"In the 1st half, they knew where Azim wanted the ball. Van Dijk followed him, Wanyama stepped forward and Fonte covered. But if I move towards Azim and he moves away, the midfielders must decide whether to follow me or protect the pass into him."
Firmino lifted his hands, tracing a small movement through the air.
"We can play short. 1 touch, then move. If I pass to Coutinho, I don't stay here. I run beyond him or move across the other side. If Coutinho passes to Azim, he can make another run. The ball keeps moving, and their midfield has to keep turning."
"Tiki-taka?" Can asked.
Firmino smiled.
"Call it whatever you like. The important part is that we do not stand after making a pass."
He pointed towards Azim.
"He can play the pass behind the defence, but somebody must move into the space before the defender closes it. Sometimes I come towards the ball. Sometimes I go beyond him. We give the player with possession 2 or 3 options, not 1."
"Good," Klopp said. "Short combinations, constant movement, but never passing simply because we want to play pretty football. Every pass must take us somewhere. If the forward route is open, play forward. If it is not, retain possession and make them move."
Firmino nodded.
Azim considered the idea.
He had been trying to use his vision to identify the most dangerous pass, but Firmino's suggestion offered another possibility. He could make the defence move before the decisive pass was played. A short exchange might draw Wanyama towards him, pulling the defensive midfielder away from the space where Coutinho or Can could receive.
The through ball would then become a consequence of the movement rather than an isolated act of brilliance.
"All right," Azim said. "Let's try it."
Klopp looked around the room.
"One more thing."
The laughter faded.
"When we have the ball, we play with courage. When we lose it, we work. I want 100% work, 100% play and 100% celebration."
He pointed towards the players one by one.
"Every run has a purpose. Every recovery matters. Every teammate deserves your support. You make a mistake, you recover. You miss a chance, you prepare for the next one. You score a goal, you celebrate together. We do not stop working because we are winning."
His eyes settled on Azim.
"And you, my friend, do not need to prove that you are the best player on the pitch every time you touch the ball."
Azim gave him a small smile.
"I understand."
"I hope so. Because the best thing you can do for this team is not to score 4 goals."
A few players glanced towards Azim.
Klopp continued.
"It is to help us play the best football we can play. If you score 4, wonderful. If you create 4 goals for somebody else, wonderful. If you run for 90 minutes and make the opponent unable to play, wonderful. The result matters, but how we reach the result matters too."
He stepped away from the board.
"Now, get ready. We have another 45 minutes to work."
The players rose from their benches.
Azim pulled his shirt into place and adjusted the tape around his wrist.
Firmino walked beside him towards the tunnel.
"One more thing," the Brazilian said.
Azim glanced at him.
"If you see me run behind the defence, play the ball."
"You heard what I said."
"I heard you. I want to make sure you mean it."
Azim looked towards the pitch, where the supporters were beginning to rise again.
"If you make the run, I will find you."
Firmino smiled.
"Then let's make them run."
The teams returned to the pitch beneath a fresh wave of noise.
The Liverpool supporters had spent the interval discussing the 3 goals, and every time Azim's name was mentioned, the reaction grew louder. He could hear the chants following him as he walked towards the centre circle.
The noise was gratifying.
It was also a reminder of how quickly football could change the way people looked at him.
He had entered the match as a young forward with a growing reputation. Now, after scoring twice in the opening half and helping create a 3rd goal, he had become the player Southampton feared most.
The danger was allowing that attention to change his decisions.
Azim took his position.
Milner checked that his teammates were ready.
Marriner looked towards both sides before blowing the whistle.
The 2nd half began.