Energy-sapped Liverpool could learn from Leipzig model

LONDON: Liverpool are badly in need of a Champions League lift to save their season, but with Jurgen Klopp’s men seemingly devoid of confidence and showing signs of physical and mental fatigue, RB Leipzig are far from perfect opponents in the last 16.

Barred from entering Germany due to coronavirus restrictions, the English champions head to Budapest for Tuesday’s first leg on the back of three wins in their last 12 games in all competitions.

That run has ended their chances of silverware by retaining their league title or lifting the FA Cup, leaving the Champions League as Liverpool’s only route to glory this season.

However, there is little reason to believe there is a revival on the horizon for a squad that has been hamstrung by injuries all season and badly in need of rejuvenation.

The loss of three centre-backs -- the talismanic Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip -- to season-ending injuries has had a devastating impact on Liverpool’s season.

Midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have been forced to deputise at the heart of the defence.

Without them, Liverpool’s bite to quickly recoup possession in midfield has gone as has the pace of Van Dijk and Gomez to defend a high line.

To compound matters, goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has been fundamental to his side’s success over the past two seasons, has made glaring errors to concede seven times to Manchester City and Leicester in the last two games.

The injuries have also meant the core of Alisson, Trent AlexanderArnold, Andy Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have had to carry a huge burden of minutes in a season congested like no other.

After four years of implementing Klopp’s energysapping style of high pressing football, Liverpool’s reserves have run dry.

“When you look at the percentage of Premier League minutes played from August 2018, this is a team that have gone to the well for three years and produced unbelievable moments, trophies for this club,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports.

“This is not an attitude thing. This is not a team who think, ‘We’ve won the league, we’ve made it’. They just haven’t stopped for three years.”

Carragher pointed to the transformational impact the three signings of Salah, Van Dijk and Alisson had in consecutive transfer windows in 2017 and 2018 to turn Liverpool from contenders for a top-four finish in Klopp’s early years into champions. - AFP