The defending champions, Liverpool, are struggling to gain a UEFA Europa League spot this year after a rather unsuccessful domestic campaign but what has happened and are, they a one season wonder?
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Liverpool have been struggling with injuries this year, mainly with their two main centre backs out for the whole season, they were going to struggle defensively nevertheless. However, with the additions, in the January transfer window, of Ozan Kabak (on Loan from Schalke) and Ben Davies from Preston North End for £1.6 Million fans would have thought that there would be an increase of results, and that Anfield would become a fortress once more.
However, that was not the case for Liverpool fans as for the first time in their history, there has been six straight defeats at home in the Premier League. The inclusion of Kabak has not shown a significant difference at the back after suffering a collapse to the hands of Leicester, at the King Power Stadium, losing 3-1 and since then only winning one out of four in the Premier League.
Furthermore, there has been no production of goals at the other end of the pitch with just one coming in the last six home matches, coming in the form of a penalty in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City. The concern is now building for Jurgen Klopp, there has been no stability for his team this season and will it even return?
Additionally, with the inclusion of transfers from the summer, Thiago’s influence has not benefitted the team with 14 games played and neither an assist or goal to his name following from his remarkable season last year at Bayern Munich. Jurgen must be starting to feel pressure and now a struggle for a top four spot or even top six is on the cards.
All of these factors have added up in to what is being seen today. One of the poorest, defences of a Premier League title in the history of the competition.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo, what can Klopp and his men do for the rest of the season to try and salvage a top four spot whilst trying to maintain a run in the Champions League?
Well, Jurgen’s team needs to assess their previous run of form and try to motivate the ‘famous front three’ of Salah, Mane and Firmino to start to bring goals back into the team, because even though they are lacking defensively with no Gomez and Van Dijk they need to find a way of moving Jordan Henderson and, when fit, Fabinho back into the midfield as that is where the creation starts and they play best.
However, at the end of the season, it is pretty obvious that their defence needs some sizeable back up in the summer as the emergency replacements of Kabak and Davies have not be substantial enough for Liverpool.
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