Jurgen Klopp’s message was as blunt as it was memorable.
When he was introduced to his Liverpool team, he told them he wanted them to be “mentally strong machines”.
A dozen weeks into his tenure at Anfield, the evidence is that Liverpool are physically weak and flawed.
Rather than the machine-like efficiency their manager envisaged, they have displayed human frailties.
Rather than the relentless consistency the most efficient teams exhibit, they have veered between extremes.
Liverpool can flourish as underdogs, as they did in their emphatic victories over Chelsea and Manchester City, and fail as favourites.
They can press but struggle when others put them under pressure.
A manager whose best teams have displayed a forcefulness has seen his current charges overpowered too often.
Liverpool’s inability to cope with physicality has been a recurring theme in their setbacks under Klopp.
They could not handle a towering target man, West Ham United’s Andy Carroll, in Saturday’s 2-0 loss. They were outmuscled by Watford’s “Bruise Brothers” in attack, Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo, in December’s defeat.
They were outpaced by Crystal Palace’s electric attacker Yannick Bolasie when the Londoners won at Anfield.
They have been found wanting time and again at set-pieces, leading Klopp to complain after the 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion that it felt as though 98 per cent of the goals Liverpool let in were from dead-ball situations.
Since then, they have shown a capacity to concede in open play instead. “We have issues with crosses,” Klopp said on Monday ahead of Tuesday night’s League Cup semi-final first leg at Stoke City. “Before that, we had issues with set pieces.”
When Sam Allardyce branded Klopp a “soft German” in a touchline row at Sunderland last week, the insult was misjudged.
He is a hard figure with a team that has a soft underbelly.
Besides confrontations in the dugouts, Klopp’s brief reign has been notable for a disarming honesty.
Few excuses have been made.
He has not sought to excuse Liverpool’s shortcomings.
An emotional character has retained his eloquence.
He continues to talk about the physical, not the technical. “We were passive [against West Ham],” he said. “That’s not good in life or in football. We have to be more aggressive.”
Liverpool have outrun teams in midfield at times, but they have to prove to their manager that they can stand up to a challenge.
Especially one they have failed before. Klopp’s first silverware could come in the League Cup.
It takes him to the place where his predecessor’s tenure unravelled. Brendan Rodgers was on borrowed time after May’s 6-1 capitulation at the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke could be tempted to rewind the clock.
Mark Hughes has reconfigured them cleverly, adopting the tactics that Klopp deployed to great effect in his wins at Stamford Bridge and the Etihad Stadium.
Deploying a front three of technical talents with Bojan Krkic as a false nine, coupled with outstanding wins over both Manchester clubs and Everton, has brought more mentions of the “Stokealona” nickname, referencing a transformation to incorporate more fantasy players.
The Stoke of stereotype, based upon set pieces, physical power and a battery of six-footers, may be ideally suited to facing this Liverpool team.
Because Liverpool have displayed too little fortitude.
They have too few machines. Klopp has been unfortunate in that James Milner and Jordan Henderson, two with the running power to suggest they are battery powered, are sidelined.
Yet flair players such as Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana have been more ineffectual recently.
Liverpool have stopped swarming all over opponents and they have not compensated with creativity.
Their defensive deficiencies remain and the sense is that Klopp is discovering the job is bigger, and Liverpool’s problems are more entrenched, than he initially realised.
Yet the League Cup offers the chance of just a second piece of silverware in 10 years.
That will be squandered unless Klopp’s team show that, particularly in the centre of defence and in goal, that they cannot be bullied.
Because there has been too little evidence of mental or physical strength from Liverpool of late.
sports@thenational.ae
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
