Liverpool have a hit a metaphorical wall in their Premier League campaign after appearing to be on the path to back-to-back crowns. In the first half of the term, the Reds were dominant even after losing Virgil van Dijk to a serious knee injury.
However, since December, the wheels have fallen off the Merseysiders campaign, which has seen them plummet from the summit. Jurgen Klopp’s men are now in a battle to finish in the top four this season, with the football betting odds backing them at 11/4 to achieve the feat. Injuries and burnout appear to have played a significant role in Liverpool’s decline.
The issues are not too dissimilar to what occurred in Klopp’s tenure at Borussia Dortmund. After winning the Bundesliga in the 2011/12 campaign, and reaching the Champions League final in 2013, Die Schwarzgelben fizzled out under the German, prompting his exit in 2015. Liverpool are on course for one of the worst title defences in Premier League history.
Klopp’s intensity is his biggest strength, driving his teams forward to a ruthless degree. He ensures that his sides put their opponents under overwhelming pressure. It has certainly been overwhelmingly successful at Anfield, ending the Reds’ 30-year drought without the Premier League crown and adding a sixth European title to their collection.
However, Klopp’s intensity has also proven to become a weakness over time. Players have been worn down by his methods on the field. Their spirit has remained strong, but the style of play has taken its toll on the bodies of Liverpool’s players over the last two years. Accumulation of matches over a short period of time may also be the reason. However, there is a significant commonality between the issues faced by Dortmund and Liverpool under the tenure of Klopp.
Van Dijk’s injury was a freak problem, but Jordan Henderson has fallen victim to the injury bug along with Fabinho. Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold have not been as effective as in past seasons, increasing the burden on Mohamed Salah in the final third. The Egyptian has once again been exceptional even with the struggles of his team-mates around him in the final third.
Liverpool have not been overly active in the transfer market over the past few seasons, opting to make one or two major splashes rather than a turnover in their squad. There has been no need. This summer could be a different story to replace ailing legs and allow other players to seek pastures new to freshen up the dressing room.
Roberto Firmino has been an outstanding forward for the Reds, but at the age of 29, the club have probably seen the best days of his career. Georginio Wijnaldum has been more important than ever this term, but the 30-year-old did catch the eye of Barcelona in the transfer window, and Liverpool could use the funds to bolster their squad with a younger replacement to ease the pressure on Henderson, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones.
Reports have linked Liverpool with moves for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Signing either player would be a huge coup for the Reds, with every major club interested in the signatures of the potent striking duo. Whether they have the capital to pull off the feat remains to be seen as the Reds have been operating on a different financial field to their rivals, balancing their books with sales to match their expenditure. With Manchester City seemingly back on the rise, and Chelsea splashing the cash, Liverpool may have to follow suit to ensure they remain among the elite.