Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp has been one of the most entertaining teams in Europe over the last six years. From the famed front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to their flying full-backs in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson. Not to mention their solidity at the back with Virgil van Dijk anchoring the defence and a sturdy midfield partnership featuring the likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago. Since 2017, Liverpool has reached three Champions League Finals, winning in 2019. Domestically they have finished the season with at least 90 points on three occasions, including their league-winning campaign in 2019/2020, ending a 30- year long wait. During this span, the Reds have won 5 more cups including the Carabao Cup (2021/2022) and FA Cup (2021/2022) their trophy cabinet. Now, the mood around Anfield is completely different. Liverpool currently sits 6th in the Premier League standings, with 42 points from 26 games played, 24 points behind league leaders Arsenal and six points behind fourth-place Tottenham. They were knocked out early in both cup competitions. They suffered their heaviest Champions League defeat to Real Madrid (5-2) in the last 16 first leg at Anfield and eventually lost 6-2 on aggregate. Liverpool’s drop-off has been one of the most shocking revelations this season, though some mitigating factors have been behind this slump.
INJURIES
Injuries (unfortunately) are part and parcel with professional sports, with some clubs getting the shorter end of the stick than others. However, Liverpool’s misfortune in this regard is particularly noteworthy. Liverpool has witnessed a total of 162 games missed this season from players due to injury, with Chelsea (124) having the next worst record Liverpool in recent years has usually had a predictable starting lineup, with squad players like Divock Origi, Naby Keita and Joe Gomez filling in as rotational pieces. This season, to their dismay, several key players have been unavailable due to lengthy injury spells. Luis Diaz hasn’t featured since October with a knee injury, Diogo Jota has been hampered for months with hamstring and calf injuries, while both Thiago and Naby Keita have struggled for full fitness for a large part of the season. To make matters even worse, midfield rising star Stephan Bajectic is now out for the season with an abductor injury. A depleted squad, with key players out for lengthy spells, has compromised Liverpool’s ability to put out a consistent starting XI, ultimately resulting in producing inconsistent performances.
LACK OF FORM
While injuries have been a factor, it doesn’t take away how poor Liverpool has been this season, as compared to past campaigns. A host of key players are having underwhelming seasons both statistically and with the eye test- one of which is Virgil van Dijk. The 31-year-old Dutch defender has not been at his imposing best, conceding a penalty against Fulham in the first game of the season and producing lacklustre performances for much of the season. Mohamed Salah has had to carry the attacking burden with the departure of Sadio Mané but he has dropped in most if not all of his attacking metrics. Salah has just 11 goals in the league this season, underperforming his expected goals of 12.8. The Egyptian has also taken fewer shots per game, fewer shots on target per game and fewer shot-creating actions compared to last season. The two players that pose an accurate reflection of Liverpool’s slump season are Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho. The former is usually the playmaker in the team, (often at the expense of his defensive responsibilities) providing a constant threat with his crossing ability on the right-hand flank. However, going forward, he’s been subpar this season with only two assists this season. Fabinho, at the midfield base, has struggled with a big drop-off. The Brazilian is making less interceptions, fewer recoveries and winning just 54% of his aerial duels- down from 64% last season.
TROUBLE BEHIND THE SCENES
Liverpool over the past few years was renowned for setting a positive example of how a major club should be run with a clear structure from ownership to the coaching staff. However, there have been some rumblings inside Anfield. According to Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy, there have been some signs of discontent with Liverpool struggling to find a head doctor and some key personnel in the background leaving or have left. Most notable is former Sporting Director Michael Edwards, who left last year, and current sporting director Julian Ward is also set to depart by the end of the season, with no replacement lined up. The principal owners Fenway Sports Group had put the club up for sale in November but lack of suitors and the concurrent availability of arch-rivals Manchester United have affected their plans to sell up, distorting the pace and decision-making of potential suitors.
Liverpool’s near future is murkier than what it was just three years ago. Questions continue to hover around Fenway Group and how committed they are to reinvest in the club, with their sell-to-buy model now unsuitable to keep the Reds competing for the major trophies. Key personnel leaving has put even more responsibility on Jurgen Klopp and his backroom staff to handle matters out of the playing field including transfers and contract renewals. The playing squad also needs a reshuffle with key players in years gone by now aging and due to leave at the end of the season à la Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita. The shining light of this remains Jurgen Klopp, whose recent contract extension sees his Anfield sojourn continue till at least 2026, but he will have to make some big decisions in the summer that are bound to have an impact on Liverpool’s short (and long-term) future. Fortunately for Liverpool, they still have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season but they face Manchester City away this weekend, then Chelsea away, Arsenal at home and Tottenham at home in their final twelve games of the league campaign plus away games at Leeds United, West Ham, Leicester and Southampton, all fighting to stay in the division, with Liverpool winning just three games away from home this season. With news circulating that Liverpool target Jude Bellingham is unlikely to come to Liverpool due their financial troubles, it doesn’t bode well for their recruitment plans in the summer and many Reds’ fans will be hoping that this is just a mini dip rather than a malaise.
