Ex-Liverpool throw-in coach details brutal Klopp axe as Brentford target upset

11 November 2023 , 20:30

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Thomas Gronnemark was an unsung hero behind Jurgen Klopp's all-conquering Liverpool side (Image: Hakan Burak Altunoz/Getty Images)

Brentford are plotting an Anfield upset - with help from Liverpool's former throw-in coach. Thomas Gronnemark was one of the unsung heroes behind Jurgen Klopp's all-conquering side that lifted seven major trophies before the Dane's surprise departure at the end of last season.

Now, in the aftermath of his ill-fated Reds divorce, the 47-year-old is embracing his second collaborative romance with compatriot Thomas Frank and Brentford's href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc">Liverpool can still expect the unexpected from throw-ins when the ball rolls out of play this weekend.

"There will be no challenges around the fact I have coached both teams - my coaching is tailored to specific needs," said Gronnemark. "All teams have contrasting playing styles and approaches, therefore I have taught in many different ways."

Gronnemark claims the unpredictability of his work was best reflected in January 2020 when Roberto Firmino struck a crucial winner at Tottenham during Liverpool's historic title charge, adding: "In my second year at Liverpool, Spurs and Jose Mourinho worked on how to defend our throw-ins for two-and-a-half hours - both on the training pitch and with video analysis. We then scored the winning goal from a throw-in situation. You can be really good at executing throw-ins; long, short or clever and it's still really hard to defend because there are so many situations that occur."

When Gronnemark arrived at Liverpool over five years ago in July 2018, the Reds were 18th in the Premier League at keeping possession from throw-ins with a distressing percentage of just 45.4. One year later, the numbers had improved to 68.4 per cent - the second highest in all of Europe. Who was top? One of Gronnemark's other sides, FC Midtjylland, of course. The obsessive Scandinavian expert was spending up to five interactive sessions per season with Liverpool before COVID-19 scuppered their remarkable efficiency. Travel restrictions, which were further complicated by Brexit, unavoidably halted Gronnemark's influence on the Reds - despite extensive remote video analysis.

Thomas Gronnemark led training sessions on throw-ins for Liverpool players (Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

He made just two visits to Kirkby last season and following consultation with Klopp - the Liverpool boss decided the time had come for a parting of ways. "After COVID, the level of throw-ins went from the best in the world to only good," Gronnemark explains. I thought 'if I continue, we should put it up to four or five times like before'. I said this to Jurgen but he came back to me and said they wanted to try and do it themselves without me this season. It sounds weird but it was a good solution for me because I wasn't satisfied, I always want to be the best I can with my work."

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Gronnemark, who has also worked with numerous other sides around the world including Ajax, Gent, Trabzonspor, Atlanta United, Toulouse, Philadelphia Union and Pachuca, spent two seasons with Brentford between 2016 and 2018 before returning to the west London club in 2022. Ivan Toney's respective FA ban threw a major spanner into the works and cunning craftsman Gronnemark had to react and adapt his Brentford throw-in coaching blueprint accordingly - though understandably, he is not prepared to reveal any of his secrets.

He said coyly: "I won't talk so much about individual players due to the strategy but every team has what I call throw-in superpowers. Ivan Toney is really good at some things, other players are really good at other things so you have to build that into your strategy. It also counts for defending wise, defending throw-ins all around the pitch."

Gronnemark is relishing his unique Danish connection with highly-rated Bees tactician Frank - something he considers imperative to their collective success. He concluded: "No matter where you are in the world, the closer you get to the people you work with - the better the results. If you already have a common knowledge like Danish then you already have an advantage. That's just as important as the skill set you have because if you're not connected to the people you work with, it's hard to maximise the potential."

Ryan Taylor