If anyone would have told me before the start of the season that Liverpool would be struggling for the Top 10 this term, I would never believe, nor their fans and the entire football fraternity. The last year's Champions League runners-up are facing a battle to safeguard their pride in the English top flight as the Top 4 seems like a mountain too high to climb at the moment!But what changed in a couple of months that a team that missed out on the title by just a single point is now relinquishing outside the Top 6? (By the time you read this, standings might change for the better!) End of an Era-End of an Era
If this is the end of an era for Liverpool or a direct indication of Jurgen Klopp losing out on his tricks, one can argue all day! But let's understand the downfall of Liverpool by breaking down the available resources into bits and pieces:Quiet Transfer Window: The core of the midfield for Liverpool is occupied by Fabinho and Henderson, with the former on the wrong side of the 30s and the latter approaching at the speed of light! (No disrespect to players who have passed the mark of 30, as some incredible players in the Premier League itself are nailing it even after reaching their prime) But Liverpool and their pressing are one of the significant reasons for their success in recent years. With the aging players, however, it became difficult for Liverpool to sustain the press. And to top that, injuries have left Liverpool with fewer options and more jobs in their hands. Liverpool did sign Arthur from Juventus but unfortunately lost him to an injury that kept him sidelined for months. With Fabinho, Milner, and Henderson not the players of yesteryears, Thiago's issues with fitness, and Carvalho, Jones, Elliot, and Bajcetic still young to take over the mantle, the onus lies on the owners and Klopp to acquire a new set of players that suits Liverpool's principles. The process also involves offloading some of the old warhorses for the betterment of both parties!Failure of Liverpool's press: A huge chunk of credit for Liverpool's success goes to the pressing, and counter-pressing players carry out in a game. When Jurgen Klopp first became the head of Liverpool, he initiated a direct style of play with Gegenpressing. The idea was to play it out through the back till a direct passing lane clears out on the middle of the field. Once the ball is delivered to the final third, players would quickly pass before scoring a goal. However, if they lose the ball, the team would close down the gap and initiate counter-pressing. But with the quality of the teams in the Premier League posing a threat to Liverpool's pressing, Klopp adopted by bringing a more "controlled" aspect to his style of play, keeping the basics of direct football intact. While pressing was the primary reason for his success, it brought Liverpool down this season. With the aging players, the pressing intensity isn't maintained throughout the games, which has exposed the areas to ponder for the opposition. With the faltering pressing, the chances created and the volume of shots have also gone down significantly from last season. With that, Liverpool's ability to retain the ball dropped while the quality and amount of chances conceded hiked! The drop in pressing intensity has also resulted in a higher PPDA (passes per defensive action), which means Liverpool is trying a different playstyle from what they did in the previous seasons. (Or maybe, they are forced to)Liverpool has been hit severely by inefficient pressing. Whether the upcoming season will see some fresh faces with physiques for pressing or a change in playing style by Klopp, would be interesting to see.Superstars not living up to the expectation:The cult heroes of Anfield, be it Trent Arnold or Mohamed Salah, or the new sensations in the likes of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, have all failed to deliver consecutively. Arnold's defensive vulnerabilities are exposed completely this season, while Salah's difficulties in linking up with the new pair of strikers aren't hidden from anyone anymore. With Mane leaving the club in the summer and Firmino confirming his departure before the start of the next season, Salah's partnership with Gakpo and Nunez will be crucial to leading Liverpool back to the top. When the debate arises on Liverpool's attacking third, we all know the talent isn't a question. It is a matter of time before the trio starts clicking together. (As we saw in the 7-0 win over Manchester United) End of an Era-End of an Era
Jurgen Klopp will have his work cut short next season, given he stays at the helm and isn't sacked for the dismal run. Whether this is the end of an era for Liverpool, we clearly don't know. But one might not argue the fact that this would be the biggest challenge Klopp has had in his career; to help Liverpool stand on its feet again. For more updates keep visiting our website www.topstoriesworld.com where we provide unbiased, true, and top stories of the world.
End of an Era-End of an Era
If this is the end of an era for Liverpool or a direct indication of Jurgen Klopp losing out on his tricks, one can argue all day! But let's understand the downfall of Liverpool by breaking down the available resources into bits and pieces:
Quiet Transfer Window:
The core of the midfield for Liverpool is occupied by Fabinho and Henderson, with the former on the wrong side of the 30s and the latter approaching at the speed of light! (No disrespect to players who have passed the mark of 30, as some incredible players in the Premier League itself are nailing it even after reaching their prime) But Liverpool and their pressing are one of the significant reasons for their success in recent years. With the aging players, however, it became difficult for Liverpool to sustain the press. And to top that, injuries have left Liverpool with fewer options and more jobs in their hands.
Liverpool did sign Arthur from Juventus but unfortunately lost him to an injury that kept him sidelined for months. With Fabinho, Milner, and Henderson not the players of yesteryears, Thiago's issues with fitness, and Carvalho, Jones, Elliot, and Bajcetic still young to take over the mantle, the onus lies on the owners and Klopp to acquire a new set of players that suits Liverpool's principles. The process also involves offloading some of the old warhorses for the betterment of both parties!
Failure of Liverpool's press:
A huge chunk of credit for Liverpool's success goes to the pressing, and counter-pressing players carry out in a game. When Jurgen Klopp first became the head of Liverpool, he initiated a direct style of play with Gegenpressing. The idea was to play it out through the back till a direct passing lane clears out on the middle of the field. Once the ball is delivered to the final third, players would quickly pass before scoring a goal. However, if they lose the ball, the team would close down the gap and initiate counter-pressing.
But with the quality of the teams in the Premier League posing a threat to Liverpool's pressing, Klopp adopted by bringing a more "controlled" aspect to his style of play, keeping the basics of direct football intact.
While pressing was the primary reason for his success, it brought Liverpool down this season. With the aging players, the pressing intensity isn't maintained throughout the games, which has exposed the areas to ponder for the opposition. With the faltering pressing, the chances created and the volume of shots have also gone down significantly from last season.
With that, Liverpool's ability to retain the ball dropped while the quality and amount of chances conceded hiked! The drop in pressing intensity has also resulted in a higher PPDA (passes per defensive action), which means Liverpool is trying a different playstyle from what they did in the previous seasons. (Or maybe, they are forced to)
Liverpool has been hit severely by inefficient pressing. Whether the upcoming season will see some fresh faces with physiques for pressing or a change in playing style by Klopp, would be interesting to see.
Superstars not living up to the expectation:
The cult heroes of Anfield, be it Trent Arnold or Mohamed Salah, or the new sensations in the likes of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, have all failed to deliver consecutively. Arnold's defensive vulnerabilities are exposed completely this season, while Salah's difficulties in linking up with the new pair of strikers aren't hidden from anyone anymore.
With Mane leaving the club in the summer and Firmino confirming his departure before the start of the next season, Salah's partnership with Gakpo and Nunez will be crucial to leading Liverpool back to the top.
When the debate arises on Liverpool's attacking third, we all know the talent isn't a question. It is a matter of time before the trio starts clicking together. (As we saw in the 7-0 win over Manchester United)
End of an Era-End of an Era
Jurgen Klopp will have his work cut short next season, given he stays at the helm and isn't sacked for the dismal run. Whether this is the end of an era for Liverpool, we clearly don't know. But one might not argue the fact that this would be the biggest challenge Klopp has had in his career; to help Liverpool stand on its feet again.
For more updates keep visiting our website www.topstoriesworld.com where we provide unbiased, true, and top stories of the world.
