Is the AFL switching places with the EPL?

Nearly halfway through the 2015-16 English Premier League season, strange things are afoot.

At the top of the table is not one of the perennial Manchester behemoths, nor Chelsea, but little Leicester City. Not far behind, in contention for a spot in the European club competitions, are Crystal Palace and Watford, hardly giants of the football world.

It's rare territory for the EPL, in which just five clubs have shared 23 titles. And for fans of AFL football, there's considerable irony in the shake-up.

We've become used to hearing how even our own competition is in the national era, the Premier League often used in disparaging comparison. But is it the case anymore?

Just like the EPL, in the last 23 seasons of the old VFL, only five clubs – Richmond, Carlton, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Essendon – managed to win premierships. Suddenly, with the addition of non-Victorian teams, things opened right up.

The first 17 seasons of AFL football post-1990 produced no fewer than 10 different premiership clubs. But since then? Seven of nine premierships have been shared by just two clubs, Geelong and Hawthorn.

Better list management and administration of clubs is a factor. But just as the introduction of the draft and salary cap has long been touted as pivotal to the evening up of the AFL competition, a de-regulation of the player market might well be re-opening that old gap between the winners and the winners-not.

It's not just about free agency itself, which delivered Hawthorn James Frawley, but of course famously also cost them Lance Franklin, while Geelong's prize pick-up of Patrick Dangerfield from Adelaide ended up occurring via the trade table.

But the club-hopping of bigger names, however achieved, has not only legitimised more the concept of multi-club stars, but in turn shifted recruiting mindsets, the "mix-n-match" approach now seemingly a more viable route to premiership success than drafting and developing a generation of future flag-winners.

Not surprisingly, it was Hawthorn and Geelong that also managed the latter approach best, paving the way for their current penchant for top-ups.

The 2004 national draft sent Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis the Hawks' way, Grant Birchall the following year. The equivalent for Geelong came in 1999 with Joel Corey, Paul Chapman, Cameron Ling and Corey Enright, and 2001 with Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly.

Can you build a flag-winning team from scratch now, though? While it was widely accepted that fledgling clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney were always going to battle to keep their star classes together, they're not the only ones.

In addition to those who have already left the Suns and Giants, there's another half-dozen top-12 draft picks from just three drafts (2011-13) already elsewhere - Billy Longer, Sam Docherty and James Aish (all from Brisbane), plus Jimmy Toumpas, Troy Menzel and Nathan Freeman, the last without even playing a senior game.

No club now can bank on hanging on to an early draft pick for too long, and of course players who increasingly explore their options are going to look at the stronger clubs first.

Just on one-third of Hawthorn's 2015 premiership side hailed from other clubs. Geelong's best 22 next season, post the recruitment of Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson, Scott Selwood and Zac Smith, could conceivably boast as many.

Older football fans might recall Richmond and North Melbourne's premiership sides of the early to mid-1970s. The Tigers' back-to-back flags of 1973-74 featured imports like Ian Stewart, Paul Sproule, Robbie McGhie, Gareth Andrews, David Thorpe and Stephen Rae.

The Roos loaded up, too. Whilst the 10-year-rule, the era's free agency equivalent, saw North pick up Barry Davis, Doug Wade and John Rantall, they also went rival club shopping for the likes of Brent Crosswell, Stan Alves, John Cassin, Peter Keenan and Bill Nettlefold.

Those two clubs won four of five premierships between 1973-77, and over a dozen seasons from 1967-78 collectively made 10 grand final appearances. Ring a bell, Hawks and Cats fans?

It's certainly easy to draw the correlation not only between their capacity to lure that established talent and the success reaped in the same period, but to what's increasingly going on today.

In the English Premier League, the strong clubs have always been able to get stronger, hence the novelty value of what's happening now.

And as Hawthorn shoot for four flags in a row, perhaps the AFL's administrators might also start anxiously pondering whether in a few years' time a Carlton or Melbourne on top of the ladder will produce similar startled reactions to those going on in the Old Dart.

Liverpool should have snuck it against West Brom - Henderson

Divock Origi snatched a dramatic late draw for Jurgen Klopp's side against the visitors, but the midfielder felt his side should have gone on to win

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was left frustrated at Sunday's 2-2 draw with West Brom despite Divock Origi's late equaliser sparing his side from another home defeat.

Henderson's first-half strike was cancelled out by Craig Dawson, and Jonas Olsson looked to have secured only a third West Brom win in 26 league visits to Anfield with a second-half header.

Origi's deflected shot in the 96th minute ensured the points were shared with Henderson feeling Liverpool could have gone on to win the game at the death.

"I think we're disappointed not to have won the game," he told Sky Sports. "I thought we created some good chances. We knew West Brom would dig in.

"We're frustrated but at the same time we were chasing the game and it's great to see Divock come on and get the goal.

"After the equaliser I thought we had the momentum to get another goal, I thought we'd sneak another. We kept going, but it wasn't to be.

"Everybody's fighting to get as high as we possibly can but we've got to take each game as it comes. Obviously we're disappointed not to win today, but we have to go on to the next game."

Olsson thought he had given West Brom the lead in the closing stages of the first half only for the referee to disallow the goal for offside after consulting with his assistant.

"We said at half-time it was the right decision," Henderson said. "It looked offside. I saw the referee speaking to the linesman and they decided it was offside – I think that was right decision."

The draw has left the Reds ninth in the Premier League, five points behind Manchester United in the final Champions League qualification berth.

Jordan Henderson is ready to dance his way into the title race for Liverpool — after beating an injury that baffled experts

JORDAN HENDERSON is ready to dance his way into the title race — after beating an injury that baffled experts.

The England star, 25, is finally back for Liverpool following three months of hell on the sidelines.

Henderson’s chronic heel problem perplexed English rugby experts and the Aussie cricket side.

But Royal BALLET doctors finally helped him back on his feet — and now the midfielder wants to show Jurgen Klopp he can be part of Liverpool’s Midsummer Night’s — championship — Dream.

Former Sunderland man Henderson pulls on the Kop captain’s armband again at St James’ Park tomorrow — and cannot wait for the stick.

Henderson says Royal Ballet docs have helped him

He grinned: “It will music to my ears as it means I am back playing.

“It’s been so difficult and there have been times when I’ve been pretty down as we couldn’t find the answers.

“With my metatarsal, I knew exactly what kind of timescale I’d be out for.”

Henderson’s chronic heel problem, plantar fasciitis to be precise, left him in agony.

It is also an injury with no definite cure — and Liverpool’s medical team should know.

After all, they contacted Twickenham chiefs, Australian cricket team experts and even the Royal Ballet.

Twickers because of the strain on heels in the scrum, Aussie doctor Peter Brukner — an ex-Anfield employee — for the speed a pace bowler slams his foot into the ground.

And the Royal Ballet because dancing puts more pressure on your feet than almost any sport or pastime.

In the early days of trying to play through it, Henderson broke the OTHER foot.

And after trying different training methods, injections and nerve blockers, Kop physios just had to accept it was largely a case of giving the injury time to heel.

Henderson admitted: “It was unbearable every time I planted my foot — a burning, stabbing, nervy pain, even when I was just lying in bed.

“And there isn’t a timescale — there isn’t really a cure.

“We spoke to quite a few experts all over the world but there is nothing set in stone.”

Henderson has yet to play under new boss Jurgen Klopp due to injury Getty

In Henderson’s absence, Liverpool axed Brendan Rodgers, appointed Klopp and went from stagnating to soaring — leaving him fighting to regain his place.

But he said: “The good thing is the amount of games we have. It’s one every four or five days, so the squad will have to be rotated to keep everyone fit.”

But now he is back, there is still a nagging doubt the problem could return at any moment. Henderson admitted: “There are maybe times in a game when I feel it a little bit and I am thinking ‘is it back?’

“But I must just concentrate on playing football.”

So what about those who reckon it proves Sir Alex Ferguson was right all those years ago when he insisted Henderson’s running style would lead to injury problems?

He said: “I don’t think it has anything to do with my gait — but his comments didn’t bother me then and won’t now.”

Liverpool have hit such a red-hot run of form under new boss Klopp that they are now being tipped as title outsiders.

Adam Lallana has described playing under the German as “fun” — and it is an approach Klopp is keen to maintain.

The Kop boss said: “I like to see them play with a smile on their face. No one plays it with a frown.

“You have to be ready to enjoy what you’re doing — that’s best for everyone.

Liverpool have hit red-hot run of form under new boss Klopp

“Football can be hard work but with a smile it looks easier and that’s enough to make you enjoy it.”

Liverpool have won seven of their last eight matches under Klopp, raising comparisons with his Bundesliga miracle at Borussia Dortmund.

But he said: “You can’t compare the situations. It’s not our job to find completely new football, you have to be a genius for that. We try to make the best with the players we have.”

But Klopp has suffered a setback with the news Danny Ings does not expect to play again this season.

The former Burnley striker, 23, suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in training.

And he admitted: “When I got the injury I said straight away I will play again before the season finishes.

“But I think with the advice I’ve had of the surgeons and physios, I know they won’t risk me. Yet I know I am going to come back extremely strong.”

Liverpool's midfield must be addressed first in the upcoming transfer windows

With one point from their last two league games against relegation strugglers Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion, talk of Liverpool staging some kind of late raid on the Premier League title has been muted. It never had much foundation in reality but football supporters do like to dream and Jurgen Klopp's initially smooth entry into English football delighted many.

It's only two games, of course, but even the 1-0 win over Swansea that preceded them was fraught with difficulty. Clearly there is a lot of hard work and ingenuity needed from the German coach to fix this Liverpool team.

Most areas need addressing. Simon Mignolet wandered out for an Albion corner and got nowhere near it, helpfully contradicting Klopp's own assertionthat he didn't need a new goalkeeper. There are decent strikers but Christian Benteke is struggling with his price tag and the club's expectations, Daniel Sturridge is almost permanently injured and even when fit, Danny Ings might not rise to the level required. Divock Origi has blown extremely hot and cold, though the goals are starting to come.

Strangely, Klopp may feel he needs to genuinely strengthen the one area where there appears to be plenty of talent and choice -- the midfield.

Because of fitness and form issues in attack, Liverpool have for some time now chosen one striker and used attacking midfielders to supplement that choice. It is a "belt and braces" philosophy many managers cling to, and it's sound in theory. Against quality opposition you can bolster the midfield battleground with five individuals; against weaker teams, you raise the forward line to three.

All Liverpool's midfield contingent have certain qualities, but only Jordan Henderson really gets close to being a complete midfielder in the traditional sense: the ability to work hard, defend, create and weigh in with crucial goals. It's small wonder that first Brendan Rodgers and now Klopp have used a multitude of formations to try and utilise the squad they have but in doing so, they inadvertently revealed the weakness within it.

Take Liverpool's left side of midfield, for example. In his short tenure so far, Klopp has put James Milner, Emre Can, Jordon Ibe, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana in that area, not one of whom has a decent left foot. Ibe is an example of impatience affecting a player's form. He seemed to combine well on the right with Nathaniel Clyne and it seemed a partnership worthy of development, yet the workload dictates changes must be made and an opportunity be squandered.

Centrally, the emphasis is on work rate and defensive protection. The crowd has for years yelled "shoot!" at Lucas Leiva whenever he approaches the opposition area but purely in jest as nobody expects the Brazilian to come close to scoring. Joe Allen is similarly industrious and has had one or two threatening moments further forward, but he is not expected to create much either. In contrast, Coutinho and Lallana do hustle and harry opponents to some effect but their desired contribution is on the edge of or within the box.

Everybody does one thing or the other -- not both.

Despite a lot of choice in midfield, Jordan Henderson is the only one who has the ability to do what Liverpool need.

The selection of five, and sometimes even six, midfielders is meant to swamp the middle of the pitch and stifle opposition play. This seems excessive especially when the likes of West Brom expertly exploit Liverpool's weakness at set pieces and score easily, simply bypassing the Reds' presumed strength in the centre.

Both Rodgers and Klopp have thought along similar lines. What they want is fluidity, to keep the opponent guessing and make sure a hectic workload doesn't become a burden on the players. Reality has rarely matched the theory, and perhaps there should be more focus on what the Reds can do rather than what the opposition does. Managers must use what they've got; certainly in Klopp's case, since he has not even had a transfer window yet. The vast amounts spent on Rodgers' watch are the key frustrations here.

Once in a generation, two strikers as lethal as Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge link up. They were what powered Liverpool's unlikely title bid in 2014, ably supported by Coutinho, Henderson, Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling behind them. Three of those have now left, while Sturridge is almost a permanent spectator. It's a huge gap to fill and all the spending in the summers of 2014 and 2015 didn't get anywhere near solving the conundrum. That's the task facing Klopp in the coming months.

What makes it more difficult is the degree of expectation. Fans look at impressive victories against Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton and wonder why it can't be like that all the time. It certainly seems a complacent division so far this season, where the traditional top sides haven't got to grips with the strengthening of the others. Similarly, the dynamism of Leicester and Crystal Palace (to name just two) is often proving too much for sides expecting to just turn up and win. Liverpool were brilliant against Manchester City but aided by the opposition, and more importantly coach Manuel Pellegrini, not giving them complete respect.

Everyone else's struggles certainly offer the Reds hope in staying in contention for fourth place but it will be hard. Liverpool's recent stutter in the league has fans discussing the deficiencies in the squad again, with chatter about Klopp only having to tinker a little bit to challenge now beginning to fade. This might be as knee-jerk a reaction as thinking the Reds could mount a title challenge in the first place, but the club's poor performance in the transfer market over recent years may not have fully impacted on results yet. A sobering thought.

One instant change that could help in the short term is to settle on a style and a formation, then use the appropriate players and stick with them as much as injury and form will allow. It's difficult to judge which came first: players being moved around like chess pieces game after game, or poor purchases forcing coaches to try new things and impatiently changing them after initial failures.

Klopp's transformation of Borussia Dortmund took time and patience. He'll want both from owners and supporters alike, but perhaps he himself should demonstrate those qualities with the players.

Rough Guide to Liverpool Boss Jurgen Klopp's January Transfer History

A January transfer window with a new manager will bring much discussion among Liverpool supporters, and with Jurgen Klopp boasting a reputation as one of Europe's finest managerial talents—with experience of nurturing world-class players—expectations are likely to mount up.

This is Klopp's first foray into the English transfer market, and it could not come at a worse time for the German, with the yellow ties of Sky Sports and the rolled-down car windows of Harry Redknapp ensuring that the January transfer window is a frantic one on this ludicrous footballing island—far removed from the more placid climes of the continent and Klopp's former battleground, the Bundesliga, in particular.

Assessing the Liverpool squad objectively, the January transfer window comes at an important juncture, as the group Klopp inherited from Brendan Rodgers is in need of some upgrades—particularly in goal and the centre of defence.

Having endured his first months as Liverpool manager battling major injuries and a congested fixture schedule, Klopp hinted in conversation with Sky Sports in November that he could utilise the January market to flesh out his squad.

He said:

The January transfer window is not the perfect one because you have no time to train. You pick a player, put him on the pitch and say, 'Come on, show your best performance.'

But if we need, we will do [transfers]. No problem. 

I don't know what will happen in January, if we have more injuries it will be important, of course. But at this moment, there's no decision.

A month on from the former Borussia Dortmund manager's testimony however, and David Maddock of the Mirror has suggested that "Klopp is reluctant to make any signings in the January window—despite being offered funds to bring in new players by [Liverpool's] American owners."

This could leave some Liverpool supporters disappointed, but is this typical of the German's approach to the January market?

Examining his history in the January transfer market with Dortmund—a club with similar status to Liverpool—could allow us to predict his movements in the new year. 

Jurgen Klopp's Role in the Transfer Market

When in charge at Dortmund, Klopp did not work alone; the 48-year-old operated alongside sporting director Michael Zorc and chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke when it came to recruitment, as Klopp's agent Marc Kosicke told SPOX (h/t the Guardian) back in June.

"In Germany there is a clear separation between manager and sporting director and I think in principle this is very good. Jurgen does not like to speak to players’ agents or to carry out a transfer," Kosicke explained. "So we have to see which is the most useful arrangement."

When Klopp agreed to be Liverpool manager, he clearly found a useful arrangement—despite the club's notoriously prickly transfer committee structure serving as a byword for Rodgers' failure in his final 18 months at Anfield.

As he has shown in his first months as Liverpool manager, and during his time at Dortmund, Klopp is clearly comfortable working with what is provided.

However, as at Dortmund, it is crucial that Klopp has the last say on any incomings and outgoings. This is something that he explained during his first press conference as Reds manager, as reported by the Press Association (h/t This is Anfield) at the beginning of October:

For me it is enough to have the first and the last word, the middle we can discuss everything. We only want to discuss about very good players, it is discussing on the highest level.

I am not a genius. I don’t know more than the rest of the world. I need the other people to get the perfect information and when we have this we will sign the player or sell a player.

It is really easy to handle this.

Klopp appears to be very much the same manager as he was at Dortmund: relaxed and focused on the job at hand, rather than keeping one eye on the future and looking to overhaul his squad at the nearest opportunity.

Just as he will likely work with head of technical performance Michael Edwards and chief executive Ian Ayre, two key players within Liverpool's committee setup, his relationship with Zorc was hugely influential at Dortmund.

The enthusiastic pairing likely shared the same vision of the January market, as Dortmund's sparse transfer history during Klopp's seven seasons at the Westfalenstadion suggests. 

Klopp's January Signings: The Dortmund Era

For a manager who demands so much from his players both physically and emotionally, Klopp's desire for a winter break in the Premier League should come as no surprise.

"If you think we have too many matches, stop playing at Christmas. This tournament is not a problem. Only because there is no break is there a problem, maybe?" he told Dominic King of the Daily Mail in July, before adding, "there are many games but the Europa League is not a problem for English teams. No. The Europa League is a great competition. No winter break might be the problem."

The Bundesliga's winter break is one of the key contributing factors to the likes of Dortmund and Bayern Munich's success in European competitions, as the added six weeks of rest provides players and managers alike a crucial stage to recharge and plot for success.

As such, Klopp's January transfer dealings while at Dortmund are decidedly slim, and in his seven seasons with the club, he largely spent the winter transfer windows pruning his squad of unhappy and unsuitable players.

Florian Kringe left for St. Pauli and Diego Klimowicz moved to Bochum in January of 2009, while two years later, long-serving reserve winger Yasin Oztekin joined Turkish side Genclerbirligi on a free transfer, with Moritz Leitner and Tamas Hajnal both leaving on loan, to Augsburg and Stuttgart respectively.

In 2011/12, Mohamed Zidan joined Klopp's former club Mainz in a deal worth £280,000, while Damien Le Tallec moved to Nantes on a free transfer and Marc Hornschuh was loaned to Ingolstadt 04; the next season, Dortmund sold Ivan Perisic to VfL Wolfsburg for £5.6 million, while Chris Lowe joined Kaiserslautern for a modest £350,000.

Klopp's final January transfer window with the club saw the sale of Ji Dong-won to Augsburg, while Jannik Bandowski left for 1860 Munich on a six-month loan deal.

This allowed Klopp the freedom of the winter break to work on the fitness and tactical preparation of his current squad, free of the drama of major overhauls. Remarkably, in his seven years in charge at Dortmund, the German made only four major January signings.

Mats Hummels, a long-term fixture under Klopp, initially joined Dortmund on loan from Bayern Munich in January 2010. Three years later, the German utilised the temporary market once again to bring Nuri Sahin back to the club from Real Madrid—after his spell with Liverpool was cut short.

Klopp then sanctioned the signings of Milos Jojic (£1.5 million, from Partizan Belgrade) and Kevin Kampl (£8.4 million, from Red Bull Salzburg) in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

A big-money deal to bring Marco Reus to Dortmund from Borussia Monchengladbach was also secured in January of 2012, but the German winger did not join up with Klopp and his new team-mates until the summer.

By way of contrast, Dortmund signed 39 players in the summer months during Klopp's seven years at the club—and the failures of both Jojic and Kampl perhaps underline why the charismatic former Mainz defender has avoided the January market in his time as a manager.

It could well indicate how Klopp is likely to approach the upcoming transfer window on Merseyside, too. 

Is Klopp Likely to Sign Players This January?

As Dortmund's opportunistic moves for a young Hummels and a stagnating Sahin showed during Klopp's tenure, the German is only likely to make moves in the January transfer window if the right players are available—money will not be spent for the sake of it, which is increasingly important given the prevalence of wealth in the Premier League following the introduction of the latest lucrative TV deal.

This is reinforced by Maddock's suggestion that Klopp "has not even requested a sit down with his Fenway Sports Group bosses to talk about potential targets."

"Unless an outstanding buy—such as his former Borussia Dortmund centre-half Neven Subotic—comes available in the New Year, then he has made clear he has faith in his current squad," Maddock added.

Instead, Klopp could be more likely to put deals in place for the summer, as with Reus, and his reported move for Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic, as relayed by Serbian publication Mondo (h/t the Telegraph), with the 19-year-old rejoining the Serbian outfit on loan until the end of the season, reinforces this notion.

With injuries to the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson, Mamadou Sakho and Daniel Sturridge easing up in recent weeks, Klopp's squad looks in a relatively healthy position heading into January.

Furthermore, as a pragmatic manager primarily focussed on stabilising the club in his first season at Anfield, Klopp will no doubt prefer to focus on their development rather than muddy their rehabilitation by adding competition for their places.

The January transfer market is not an ideal period for recruitment, and as Klopp showed during his time at Dortmund, he seems to recognise this.

Klopp's January transfer history is very brief, and that is likely to continue in his new role at Liverpool.