Giles: Jurgen Klopp is a one-trick pony, it's all or nothing with him

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder John Giles has labelled Liverpool boss a one-trick pony, claiming the German has no plan B when things go against his Reds team.

The former Borussia Dortmund manager has introduced his gegenpressing philosophy at Anfield, leading his team top of the scoring charts, though his defence has suffered as a result.

And while Giles believes Klopp can lead Liverpool to the Premier League title, he remains caution in regards to the manager's all-out approach to the game.

"I said a few times this season that I thought he was a one-trick pony and that there will be games like Bournemouth when everything goes wrong," Giles wrote in his weekly Independent colomn.

"There will be many days when everything goes right and my feeling remains that there could be enough of them to win a title for Liverpool.

"But I have to say, if I was in that Liverpool squad now, I would be maddened by the way he wants to play because I see no balance, nothing to lean on when the wheels come off and they concede soft goals."

Giles referred back to Liverpool's recent defeat at Bournemouth to substantiate his argument, a fixture in which the Reds lost 4-3 despite leading 3-1 with 10 minutes to play.

"With Klopp, it’s all about the front foot, all about forward momentum and if anything interrupts the process, he wants nothing else from his players than for them to push on and try for another goal. There is no alternative. It’s an all-or-nothing approach.

"That’s why his two full-backs were far away from the play at the wrong end of the pitch for a couple of Bournemouth’s goals. That’s why he brought Adam Lalana into the game at 3-1 when other managers might have considered a steadying presence.

"Not Klopp. He wants none of that. It’s go, go, go all the time and while it produces some breath-taking football and can completely overwhelm other teams, it carries at its heart an obvious weakness. In the Bournemouth game, there were opportunities for Klopp’s team to ease back and take full control of the game with the lead they had.

"On two occasions, they had a two-goal lead and with that established, had won a position where a balanced team would take a moment to take stock, tighten everything up and see out the game. That usually happens in midfield when someone gets his foot on the ball and sets the pace of the game.

"There is no alternative," Giles reaffirmed. "It’s an all-or-nothing approach. I’m sure the players think it’s fantastic and I’m not being facetious about that."