Liverpool are going to look very, very different from what we’ve become used to next season.
We already knew that with Jurgen Klopp leaving, a whole era was about to come to an end at Anfield.
But in the months since Klopp’s bombshell announcement, it has become apparent just how big the change is about to be.
Along with the manager, a number of his most prominent coaching staff are also departing. Pep Lijnders looks ready for a head coach role and is reportedly set to take Vitor Matos with him wherever he lands. Peter Krawietz will also go after spending two decades working with Klopp.
Until yesterday, those three had been the only coaches certain to exit Anfield at the end of the season. But after John Achterberg confirmed that he too will be going, the future of yet more staff is now up in the air.
Two more coaches could follow John Achterberg
Achterberg has been a much-loved figure over a 15-year spell as Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach. It will be a real shame to see him leave.
But a decade-and-a-half is a long, long time in football. A change might do everyone good.
Arne Slot is already reported to be taking three coaches with him when he joins from Feyenoord over the summer. It’s now clear that he’ll need a new head of goalkeeping, too.
Luckily, Liverpool do have some options in that respect already at the club. It isn’t only Achterberg who preps the likes of Alisson Becker and Caoimhin Kelleher, the Dutchman counts Jack Robinson and Claudio Taffarel amongst his team. Perhaps this is a chance for either to step up and be the main man.
Well, according to the Liverpool ECHO, that may not be the case. For the time being it reportedly remains ‘unclear’ exactly what will become of both Robinson and Taffarel.
Robinson is the man named as Achterberg’s ‘understudy’ while Brazilian World Cup winner Taffarel is clearly a huge help for Alisson. It remains to be seen whether either are at the club under Slot.
Who are Jack Robinson and Claudio Taffarel
As Liverpool’s ‘assistant goalkeeping coach’ Robinson would appear the most likely to take over from Achterberg.
Having joined the club in 2018, he is already completely familiar with the way things work at the AXA Training Centre. Robinson also clearly has the trust of Alisson and Kelleher.
After spells with the England underage teams, Man City, Crystal Palace and Leeds, the coach is also experienced and looks primed to step up.
Taffarel meanwhile appears to have been initially brought in to work more closely with Alisson especially.
Joining in in 2021 to combine his duties with the Brazil national team, the 1994 World Cup winner has since moved to work exclusively with Liverpool. As Robinson was more Achterberg’s man, maybe Taffarel is actually a better bet to stay on. We’ll have to wait and see.