Just like every season, Liverpool fans thought that this would be their year, finally, and to be fair, their optimism was not all wrong. The Reds had a brilliant start to the season this time out, but we got to witness a disaster after the turn of the New Year and the Merseyside giants are yet to recover from it. Just a month ago, they were the closest challengers to Chelsea in the title race and now Liverpool’s top four finish looks at stake.
So, what has gone wrong for the Reds? They have won just one of their last 10 games, which was a narrow 1-0 win against minnows Plymouth in the replay of the FA Cup third round. The Reds also crashed out of both cup competitions in the month of January.
Jurgen Klopp has to take the blame for such a disappointing dip in form. Although the fans have not lost their faith in the German manager, their trust certainly is being tested.
Also Read: Liverpool’s best XI - where do they need to improve?
Let us take a look at the mistakes Klopp has done this season for which he is paying now:
#1 Lack of activity in the transfer market
Liverpool’s net spending in the summer transfer window was negative. It would have been a huge achievement if they had won the title this season, and the overconfidence of Klopp has certainly come back to haunt him. The former Dortmund manager did get away with the complacency in the first half of the season but it was shocking to see Liverpool not making any moves in the winter transfer window despite struggling so badly in the month of January.
Every team have their tough time at some point of the season; Liverpool were lucky to experience that in January when teams have the opportunity to buy players immediately. Still, Liverpool did absolutely nothing during the January transfer window and Klopp alone should not be held responsible for this.
The club made a profit out of transfers in the summer and still not do enough to back the manager in January by investing some cash which could have brought them the title.
#2 No ‘plan B’
During the first half of the season, Liverpool tormented each and every defence in the Premier League for fun but since the turn of the new year, it has been evident that the system is not working out properly. Their game and tactics have been figured out by the opposition, and opposition managers have pushed bodies to crowd inside the penalty area which causes Liverpool to retreat and built attacks again.
In the last one and half months, Liverpool have struggled to break down opponents but Klopp still persits with the same system week in, week out. The Merseyside manager should have reverted to more direct tactics in order to bring the Reds out of their misery. It is a bit surprising to see Klopp being so adamant with his tactics.
#3 Not taking defence seriously
Even after such a horrible run of form, Liverpool still are the highest scoring Premier League side, which suggests that the problems lie elsewhere: the defence. Anyone can see that quality wise, Liverpool's defence is very average but Klopp did not do enough to bolster it.
He has played Lucas Leiva, who is primarily a midfielder, in defence, but let Mamadou Sakho leave on loan due to a breakdown in their relationship! Sorry, Klopp, I might be one of your biggest fans but you have to take the blame for this.
Dejan Lovren is at best a backup defender for a team like Liverpool, and the same goes for summer signing, Ragnar Klavan. There is no one good enough to partner Joel Matip at the heart of the defence.
Now let us take a look at Liverpool’s left-back problems which have not been sorted out since the Rodgers era. Alberto Moreno is a defender who cannot defend while James Milner’s performances at left-back have been steady, but hardly special.
#4 Underestimating the strikers
The system Liverpool are playing in this season has no room for an out and out striker. The 4-3-3 formation with Roberto Firmino operating as the focal point of the attack worked wonders for the Reds until December but in the process, the two strikers Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, have hardly played a part.
Klopp wants all his players to contribute in every department which has affected the natural game of both the number nines when they are on the pitch.
Many would say that Liverpool’s defence is responsible for their poor run of form, lately, but the blame should be laid on the strikers, too. The Reds’ defence has always been poor, and the tactic of outscoring the opponents is not possible for the whole of the season. It is still not too late for Klopp to start using Sturridge up front, in a system where he is comfortable – like a 4-2-3-1 formation – with the likes of Mane, Coutinho and Firmino behind him.
#5 Over-reliance on a few players is okay Klopp!
There are a few Liverpool players who are still playing week in, week out despite not delivering their best, lately, which has hurt the fans. One of them is definitely Emre Can. The German midfielder is clearly a favourite of Klopp which is why he was probably picked ahead of in-form Wijnaldum against Hull City in the last game.
Another player who has struggled to live up to expectations in recent weeks is Robert Firmino. In fact, since December, the only good game the Brazilian had was when the Reds lost to Swansea 2-3 at home where he scored both goals. Managers favouring some players is natural, but when they are underperforming, benching them for two or three games could be beneficial for them personally, and also for the team as a whole.
