Although there were many possible reasons for Liverpool’s difficulties last season, many supporters preferred to concentrate on one particular factor, writes David Lynch.
They believed that neither the extended absences of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota nor the psychological cost of narrowly missing the quadruple were significant contributors to the Reds’ poor performance.
Instead, a consensus developed around the fundamental problem being the rather abrupt and simultaneous decline of several players who had been essential to the acquisition of trophies in previous years.
We were informed that Jurgen Klopp’s lack of ruthlessness in the previous transfer windows was the sole cause of this.
This idea was primarily motivated by the belief that the midfield’s shocking collapse could have been prevented if players like Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had been let go earlier.
It’s true that by the time that pair moved within two years of their contract expiration dates, it was quite obvious that they were both injury prone and that the manager didn’t really care for them even when they were healthy.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, that was also fairly clear to any potential suitors, which is why Keita was only able to sign a contract with Werder Bremen this summer and Oxlade-Chamberlain has yet to find a club.
In actuality, it wasn’t Klopp’s hesitation to approve a transfer earlier; rather, no clubs were lining up to sign either player off of the Reds’ hands.
In light of this, it is largely unjustifiable to claim that Klopp was ever motivated solely by loyalty and a desire to hold onto them.
However, that does not imply that the German has always been faultless in that regard.
Just two summers ago, it was his personal intervention that ensured Jordan Henderson was given a new, lucrative contract that ran until 2025, and Saudi Arabia’s recent pivot to football has only been able to save that choice.
Even so, Klopp would likely contend that if his captain had been benched sooner to begin a midfield rebuild, the quadruple push of 2021/22 would not have occurred.
The Reds’ manager may also have a case for citing this summer’s transactions as evidence that his ruthlessness is by no means lacking.
Once it became clear that Henderson would be willing to join Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq, there was no chance of him getting in Henderson’s way.
Additionally, despite not having any intentions to sell the Brazilian going into this summer, he did not object to Al Ittihad’s approach for another stalwart in Fabinho.
In the end, a business decision was made with clarity, one that anticipated a better long-term future for the team without the two men who had been instrumental in its recent successes.
And because of Klopp’s tendency toward loyalty, we have been told repeatedly that he cannot do that.
The Anfield trophy cabinet attests to the fact that the manager has only ever had favorites when players have consistently performed for him.
That is something that the new additions from this summer will undoubtedly learn throughout the upcoming season as they strive to establish their value on the team alongside Henderson and Fabinho.
However, if they fail to meet Klopp’s demands, they will undoubtedly discover that claims that he lacks ruthlessness are largely unfounded.
Come forward, Thiago Alcântara. With Caicedo ranked his most comparable player in Europe’s top five leagues by FBref, their profile is flawless. After welcoming Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the number eight roles and watching the development of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, Klopp could now see his Spanish master as a dedicated number six. The biggest myth about Thiago’s career at Liverpool is that he is weak in possession. The opposite is clearly true. His 3.35 tackles per 90 minutes last year placed him in the 95th percentile of all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, despite him playing for a team that dominates possession. For context, Fabinho recorded 2.13 tackles per game over the same period.
Romeo Lavia is expected to play in today’s exhibition match between Southampton and AZ Alkmaar.
Trent Alexander-Arnold had to play in another new position this summer as Jordan Henderson leaves Liverpool and Fabinho will follow
