Where do we begin? If it’s not post-match interviews turning into tirades, the build-up of injuries over the season, lack of summer recruitment or the demise of the Anfield fortress, this season has truly been unprecedented for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool Football Club.
In the twenty-nine games so far, they have already lost as many games as in the previous three campaigns combined.
With the defending champions languishing in 6th place, no home wins in the league since mid December and just three players hitting double figures in all competitions, the international break looks to have come at the perfect time.
The season so far
So what the Klopp is going on? COVID has surely brought about some of the craziest moments in this new campaign.
From defeating Leeds, Chelsea and Arsenal in their opening three games, everyone thought Liverpool were going to retain the title.
The date October 4th will go down in Premier League history. After United were battered 6-1 at home, Eyes turned to the evening kick off at Villa Park between Aston Villa and Liverpool.
The trio of Ollie Watkins, Ross Barkley and Jack Grealish combined to absolutely pummel the Reds 7-2 to everyone’s surprise.
The international break came at the perfect time for Klopp and co. to forget that the game happened. Then came the Merseyside derby.
From the moment Virgil Van Dijk suffered that injury in the Merseyside derby, the trajectory of Liverpool’s title defence certainly went awry.
Their record signing and defensive rock was crocked by what was a horrendous tackle and not even a penalty was given.
What transpired between then and the end of the year was arguably unprecedented.
Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Mo Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alisson, Bobby Firmino and Fabinho have all suffered injuries or are still currently injured.
What has since transpired has been unreal, from nearly 20 different defensive partnerships, a winless streak at their former fortress, stretching over four months, you could not make this up.
Who’s to blame?
If you ask Jurgen Klopp, the answer appears to be everybody but him, if you don’t believe me, watch one of his tirades earlier this season where he tried to pin it on the broadcasters.
Is there a way out?
At this point in the season, the Reds have two focuses: do well in the Champions League, get into the top 4, sounds simple right? Not quite.
Having been drawn against 13-time champions Real Madrid, there’s already a massive stumbling block in Europe’s elite competition.
To make it worse, three of the previously mentioned four sides they opened the campaign against (Leeds, Arsenal and Aston Villa), all still await next month.
This is separate from their North-West rivals and a number of middling teams fending off the relegation dogfight involving sides between 11th and 18th to come.
Let’s see if all’s well that ends well by the time we reach the campaign’s denouement in 2 months’ time.
