Michael
Injuries are critically costing Liverpool dearly yet again this season. It seems to be an ongoing repetitive cycle for the Reds. Back-to-back Premier League losses to two teams in the relegation zone, 15 points off Arsenal, the Reds sitting at 8th position in the table highlights our obvious deficiencies.
Liverpool have endured a torrid time with injuries. One step forward is always met by two steps back, with players yo-yoing in and out of the squad. Only 8 Liverpool first team players have NOT missed a game this season from a squad of 27 which is unbelievable so early into this season.
There is still hope that they can turn the ship around but without serious investment from FSG especially in our midfield this January, the mountain may be too big to climb.
With each passing week and poor result it is becoming clearer and clearer that the Reds aren’t going to get back to their best at least not without some retooling. Liverpool’s midfield this season seem’s to have lost its energy and hunger. An aged squad that simply looks to have gone a year too far needs to be refreshed in January, with at least 3 quality big names.
At the end of last season chasing for the quadruple (Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup) cracks started to appear. A squad that prided itself on clean sheets suddenly looked porous and vulnerable to counter-attacks. That relentless and demanding season has taken its toll. Missing out on the record breaking quadruple should have been the early warning sign raising alarm bells with FSG.
Premier League clubs’ gross transfer spend totaled a whooping £1.9bn in the summer 2022 window, the highest spend ever recorded in a single transfer window by a margin of £487.8m. Our big rivals Arsenal, Manchester city, Manchester United and Chelsea all heavily investing back in their squad’s replacing key outgoing players in required positions. Liverpool’s net spend was £8.64m. How is this petty sum competing with the top clubs in the Premier League? Well simply, its not.
FSG must act in January and back Klopp with the funds required bring in several quality players, failure to do so will result in Liverpool missing out on Champions league football. Missing out on key transfer targets and only bringing in Arthur late on who’s now out injured and will probably never play for Liverpool is just criminal.
You cannot overstate the importance of Champion League football for any club wanting to compete at the top level. The income alone enables higher-profile signings, not to mention, many players will not play for clubs that can not offer this high-profile top tier football.What Klopp has achieved since joining in 2015 is nothing but astonishing. Restoring Liverpool once again to the pinnacle of European and World football after years of Manchester United and Chelsea dominance surely deserves full support from our board. If the board are not going to do it now after all this squad has achieved, then they need to step aside or get new investment in.
Our midfield woes continue week by week. Key players not available for selection, Klopp relying on fringe squad players. If there is one part of the team that is the obvious candidate for urgent mid-season surgery, then the centre of our midfield surely is it.
Liverpool have only signed one quality midfield starter Thiago Alcantara since signing the injury prone Naby Keita in 2018. Naby Keita looks to have no future at Liverpool, Fabinho has been off the pace this season, Captain Jordan Henderson is coming to the end of his Liverpool career along with James Milner. Another injury prone player still on the books is Oxlade Chamberlain whom doesn’t seem to offer much when available. Then we have the late summer on loan signing Brazilian Arthur who is currently on the long term injury list without ever starting for the first team.
Sadio Mane’s departure in the summer was a big loss to Liverpool not just in his quality and goals but for his consistent availability he offered to Klopp’s selection. Other notable departures in recent transfer windows are Takumi Minamino, Marko Gruijic and Gini Wijnaldum. The latter, Wijnaldum an excellent consistent player for Liverpool. Only leaving Liverpool justifiably for a big pay day at PSG.
Wake up FSG before its too late!
