LIVERPOOL ARE IN A SPOT OF BOTHER

THIS season promises to be an interesting one. Quite a few so-called “top six” clubs are currently in a spot of bother, and one such example is Liverpool.

The Reds looked strong in pre-season and were widely expected to challenge for the top four major trophies on offer; they still can, as the season is in its infancy. However, it is safe to say the Reds have had a disastrous start to the season.

Liverpool are currently not defending well or attacking with confidence. Something appears to be off with their chemistry, and Mohamed Salah may be struggling to find that same level of chemistry he shared with Sadio Mane with his new attacking teammates.

The Reds fell to a 2-1 defeat against a crisis-laden Manchester United side this week. Truth be told, United looked far from impressive in that game and Liverpool should have won it based upon the way they dominated possession. They also had a significantly stronger side technically. Jurgen Klopp’s side only have themselves to blame for losing that game.

The loss of Mane is definitely a big factor behind the Reds’ loss of form. Not only was the Senegalese a big threat in front of goal to opposition teams, but he also brought a calm and mature aura to the team. Darwin Nunez has strong potential, but received a red card in his first start. While he is capable of churning out world-class performances, he is still a raw product that needs some refining before he can truly hit the levels that Mane did.

Injuries have also not helped Klopp, so much so that he was forced to start with James Milner and Harvey Elliott against United. Milner was expected to play a mentor role in the squad this season and not start big games. He is not at the level he once was and his presence in the side is more vital as a source of knowledge that can be passed down to younger players.

While he has done good work in his seven-year reign at Anfield, Klopp is also at fault in Liverpool’s current situation. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are two players for instance that are known to suffer from injury issues that require lengthy absences, yet Klopp has opted to carry on keeping them in his squad. He really should have offloaded at least one and brought in a fresh face with a less injury-prone record.

Klopp’s loyalty to players is also letting him down currently. Right now, there are very strong arguments that Kostas Tsimikas should be starting games ahead of Andrew Robertson. However, it is hard to see such a change happening anytime soon as the German boss is known to persist with Robertson.

There appears to be a lack of link-up play between Luis Diaz and Robertson, which is also a factor behind the team’s lack of confidence in front of goal.

Liverpool are in a frustrating situation, but with a few tactical tweaks, Klopp can still fix the situation.