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[The Independent]( October 14, 2022 [View in browser]( [The Independent]( [The Independent]( New problems and challenges in old rivalries New dilemma ahead of England's "new Clasico" Ahead of the visit of Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp has been doing a lot of thinking. He has a multi-layered problem. It is not just trying to adapt to [Pep Guardiolaâs sophisticated tactics](and Erling Haaland, but also fitting a new Liverpool formation into this. [Klopp is currently a coach trying to figure out](a new path for his team, something all the more difficult a question given his great side - the 2017-22 cycle - were so defined and so perfectly integrated. He now has gaps and disconnections everywhere. It is usually in these situations that managers decide to go âback to basicsâ. [Sir Alex Ferguson always did it](, most notably in the unexpected 1-0 win over Jose Mourinhoâs relentless Chelsea in the same period when Manchester United were in crisis and Roy Keane left the club. That generally involved tightening up, making sure the defence was right and building from there. That has never been Kloppâs way, though. That isnât really the way of the modern game. You canât rely on such approaches because it is a more athletic and co-ordinated game than ever before. Thereâs also the fact that, for Klopp, âback to basicsâ tends to mean back to pressing and attacking. It may not be the best solution against this City and Haaland. It is going to be one of the more fascinating elements of the day, that immediately shapes it and sets it up. Klopp surely canât go with the 4-2-4? It of course worked against Rangers but the manner Arsenal cut through it should be a considerable warning for a match against City. Mbappe can forget any January move [Kylian Mbappe]( set the industry ablaze this week, as it was leaked that he wants out of Paris Saint-Germain. That ultimately revolves around âpromises not being keptâ. Some of that is down to fair logical concerns. Mbappe is in favour of a team identity based on Parisâ ample talent production and high pressing. Some of it is also down to base ego. Mbappe believes this new era at PSG should be centred on him, and doesnât think there is productive space for all three of him. If he had his way, as the Independent wrote on Tuesday, Neymar probably would have been sold in the summer. None of it means Mbappe is going to be sold this January, though. That is absolutely off the cards. PSG just wonât countenance it. The summer, however, could be very interesting. The biggest twist in football history - or an inevitability? Itâs time for the Clasico this weekend, but there is one element missing. The fans still hate the other club of course. There is immense pressure on both teams to beat the other. That is only sharpened by the situations the clubs are in, especially given Barcelonaâs current [struggles in the Champions League](. But those problems point to a bigger issue, that actually leaves something missing from this build-up. That is the lack of real edge between the two club hierarchies. Sure how could there be edge? The greatest rivals in world football are now part of a grand alliance. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid, along with Juventus, are of course part of this rump that still firmly believes they will deliver a Super League. There is more to that than shared ambitions. There is constant dialogue. Hence both Joan Laporta and Florentino Perez singing from the same hymn sheet - in an almost literal sense - as they both gave very similar addresses about the Super League. It is one football historyâs twists, that is striking so many in the game. It might also be inevitable. As tends to happen in these sort of things, they have so many shared interests. The global profile of their rivalry means they become dependent on each other, and they are both fan-owned clubs in a world changed by state ownership. Either way, the two clubs that - probably more than any other - have defined rivalry and hatred in football now represent one of its strongest alliances. Conte considering what's to come rather than what next If [Tottenham Hotspur havenât been that convincing this season](, there may well be a reason beyond Antonio Conte going so surprisingly defensive. There is an increasing school of thought - informed by those who are in dialogue with the management team - that the Italian specifically has Spurs playing this way because of the World Cup. He and his staff have realised that the physical and emotional intensity of the tournament is going to wreak havoc on club sides in the second half of the season, and could make it all very unpredictable. As such, although he canât control how his players are used in the World Cup, he can control their âphysical loadâ now. It would make sense, especially given how flat this Spurs can seem compared to previous Conte sides. Stamford Bridge may yet have striker it craves One that filtered out while Chelsea were in Milan. The London club retain considerable interest in Rafael Leao, and may well go back in for January. Top stories [Arsenal weather Bodo/Glimt storm to take charge of Europa League group after Bukayo Saka goal]( [Chelsea manager Emma Hayes to take time away from football after emergency hysterectomy]( Miguel's Dispatches There are many complaints you could have with Britainâs transport infrastructure these days and how it relates to football, and we will get into that in future newsletters and pieces. The service the government has overseen between Manchester and London remains a disgrace. For the moment, there was something [that struck from our Champions League trips this week](. On Tuesday, I was at Milan-Chelsea, and had a fairly easy time getting away from the San Siro by catching one of the trams back into the centre. On Wednesday, I was at Tottenham Hotspur, and found it quite frustrating leaving over an hour after full-time. There were minimal buses and trains and those that came were rammed. It was actually impossible to get on the buses back to Seven Sisters because all were full. The transport problems around the stadium have been an issue for some time, but it seems a new complication has been added related to the new stadium. Transport obviously lessens the later it gets - but more people are leaving the ground later now because you can stay and eat and drink at [Tottenham](in their new facilities. It is something that needs assessment. QUOTE OF THE WEEK "The Champions League is being cruel to us this season." Xavi Hernandez on Barcelonaâs struggles Reading the game quiz Reading the game quiz Since the Premier League was formed in 1992, only nine English managers have finished in the top four. Name them. ([You can find out the answers here](. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too) INDYBEST /BEST SPORTS BUY]( 8 best running backpacks and vests for trail runs and morning commutes Secure your stuff and stay hydrated â from the first mile to the last [Click here for our reviews]( Essential reading [Barcelonaâs summer transfer gamble already at risk of failure amid costly Champions League troubles]( [Mohamed Salah delivers timely reminder of his ruinous brilliance ahead of Liverpool vs Man City]( OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [Sports Brief] Sports Brief Every Monday, 6pm (UK time) Written by Ben Burrows [Join now]( [Fantasy Football] Fantasy Football Every Thursday, 6pm (UK time) Written by Mark Critchley [Join now]( If you can spare a minute weâd love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. 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