The Premier League season is almost upon us. All the teams are getting geared up to fight for yet another nail-biting season. Here, we will have a look at one of the title challengers, Liverpool. Last season was a bit under-par as per Liverpool’s expectation as they finished in the top 4 only with a late surge. The 2021-22 season is expected to be better for the Reds, with the return of Virgil Van Dijk.
Last season didn’t go as plan for the Merseysiders as they were rocked by the early long-term injury for Van Dijk. While the return of Van Dijk will boost Klopp’s men, Liverpool will wait nervously for the extent of yet another injury. Andy Robertson suffered a serious injury which could see him ruled out for a lengthy period. The fullbacks play an important role in Klopp’s system, as they look to get back on top to fight for the title.
Mohammed Salah will play an important role again if Liverpool are to repeat the 2019-20 season’s performance in the 2021-22 season.
Also Read | Best Moments of Jurgen Klopp in last five years
How Liverpool fared in 2020-21?
Having started the season as defending champions, Liverpool was expected to be the team to beat alongside Manchester City. However, an October derby against Everton changed their course of the season. A 2-2 draw ended with Virgil Van Dijk going out after suffering an injury which would keep him out for the rest of the season. Losing their commanding center-back derailed their season.
It was overall an injury-plagued season as they saw a record number of players being ruled out. The lack of a consistent 11 hampered their title challenges with the top 4 also looking a distant dream at one point. A quarter final defeat against Real Madrid meant the Merseysiders bowed out of the Champions League.
It was only in the final lap of the season that Liverpool got their form back. A run of 5 wins in a row meant they finished the season in 3rd place.
Transfer Activity
The only arrival till now at Liverpool has been Ibrahima Konate, who joined from RB Leipzig. The young center-back will be a solid addition to the Liverpool backline. Other than the defender, Liverpool have not been active in the market. In Salah, Firmino, Mane, Jota, and Minamino they possess a quality attack so it’s likely that they won’t pursue another attacker.
Although, after Andy Robertson’s injury yesterday, it is likely that the club may enter the market for a left-back.
What to expect in the upcoming season?
Going into the season, Liverpool will be one of the 4 frontrunners for the title alongside City, United, and Chelsea. Klopp would need to bring more out of his squad as a whole to stay consistent and fight on all fronts. Van Dijk’s presence would mean a better defence as compared to last season.
The 2020-21 season saw Liverpool drop points majorly against bottom sides. The focus will be on getting more creativity to extract and break the low-block defensive sides. Along with the starting front 3, Diogo Jota will be a player to watch out for and make a difference in the nervy moments.
Nabi Keita may be facing his make-or-break season as the midfielder has not been able to impose himself after his move to Anfield. Klopp’s side will be expected to play their usual high pressing football, with a focus on sealing the close victories and providing the extra edge.
Prediction for 2021-22
Liverpool does have a balanced side to fight for the title. However, at the moment, the squad depth at Manchester City and Chelsea edges them. However, anything less than a top 4 finish will be a failure for Liverpool in the 2021-22 season. Whether they can challenge for the title, can be predicted after their early run-ins. Edging out the fixtures between the Top 6 will be crucial in making the difference at the top.
As seen before, Klopp doesn’t seem to focus on the domestic cup competitions, so Liverpool would ideally have Premier League and UCL to think about. Winning the Champions League seems a bit far fetched when compared to the other favourites in the competition.
A top 2 finish and a good Champions League run can result in a successful 2021-22 season for Liverpool.
