Liverpool seek exciting new innovation, and Champions League opponent could help them identify it – Liverpool.com

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When it comes to doing work behind the scenes, Liverpool have become renowned for going about their business in a shrewd and effective manner. Whether it be hiring a coach specialising in throw-ins, or managing their transfer business in a unique way, the club have established themselves as the powerhouse in how a football club should be run.

Yet, as they prepare for their first Champions League home match of the season, they are set to meet a club who have conducted themselves with similar standards. FC Midtjylland may not strike fear into the hearts of fans of Europe’s elite clubs, but it cannot be denied their ability to manoeuvre the situation despite being up against the odds.

The Danish club have always done things differently. Often competing for the league title FC Copenhagen, this is their first time competing on Europe’s biggest stage in the club’s albeit brief history. Given the distinct gulf in quality and history between Liverpool and Midtjylland, it is not easy to see how the two clubs are connected.

What they both have in common is believing, if not thriving, on the true underdog story. Ever since Jürgen‌ Klopp arrived at Anfield in 2015, Liverpool have gone about their business in a calm manner and never panicking, whether that be in the transfer market or when making important decisions.

The two clubs are connected by both working with throw-in coach, Thomas Grønnemark, and working on the marginal gains is often what gives clubs with smaller budgets the edge over the opponents. Could we see Liverpool take more pages out of Midtjylland’s unconventional playbook, which have so far served both clubs so well?

It’s not only Grønnemark that Midtjylland on their books that have proved so vital in recent seasons. Aside from the quality in their squad, there are also several other specialist coaches which have been employed and seem to have made a difference. A dedicated ball-striking coach, Bartek Sylwestrzak, is the only one in his field in all of world football, and is certainly a job title that raises eyebrows. You would think that simply kicking a ball would be simple, but no.

The unique job titles do not stop there. Midtjylland also have a sleep coach, and have also employed a cognitive psychologist to help the players stay fit mentally, as well as physically.

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All of this stems from the club’s chairman Rasmus Ankersen, who also works as a director of football with Championship club Brentford. Given Midtjylland’s standing as not part of Europe’s big five leagues, as well as forming only 21 years ago, their mentality has always been to search for the unconventional way of getting success.

“Innovation often doesn’t come from the big clubs,” Ankersen told The Times. “It comes from the small clubs, because big clubs are not prepared to take enough risks. There is too much to lose. I actually think Liverpool have gone against that because they are a big club that is really trying to adopt a different way of doing things, and I think that paid off for them massively. Big, big kudos to them for that.”

Liverpool have always gone about their business in a way that is not usually becoming of a club at the summit of English football. That model has usually been spend, sometimes for spendings sake, but it has never been the strategy adopted by the Reds in Klopp’s tenure.

The German is certainly an admirer of the way Midtjylland go about their business, and that was shown by his desire to hand Grønnemark a contract two years ago.

Could we see more innovations made by the Danish club work it’s way to Anfield in the coming years? Who knows. One thing is for sure, though, if they keep on achieving success through their methods, then the bigger clubs in Europe will have no choice but to stand up and take notice.