If you were asked to name an English football team that was known as being a giant, there’s little doubt that Liverpool would feature highly in people’s responses, know the club’s season review so far
That’s because this is a club that’s steeped in history and one that has had more than its fair share of silverware. However, the 2022 domestic season doesn’t seem to be going well.
While the club’s European performances seem to be ticking along nicely, languishing mid-table at home is not what’s expected from this great club. The longer this goes on, the much more complicated it’s going to be to recover from, so just what’s going wrong at this world-class club?
Liverpool FC Season Review So Far, What’s Going Wrong At The Club In 2022/23
The loss of Sadio Mane
Mane headed to Bayern Munich during the summer, and it’s hard to argue that his departure hasn’t had an impact. It’s worth remembering that he was Klopp’s first big signing. He soon became known for his goals, assists, and continual pressing.
Darwin Nunez, Liverpool’s record signing, was brought in as a replacement for Mane, but it’s clear he failed to slot in. His first home game saw him being sent off and although he may have netted goals since, he just hasn’t integrated into the team in the same way that Mane did.
The curse of injuries
It’s not just the permanent departure of players that has impacted Liverpool’s season to date. The club has already been plagued by injuries, some long-term. The likes of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz were an integral part of last season’s successes, but now they remain sidelined and struggling to recover.
There’s also Naby Keita to consider. Known as the club’s most dynamic midfielder, he’s yet to make an appearance this season. To add to the toil, captain Jordan Henderson has now also picked up an injury while taking on Ajax.
Struggling to find form
While a team can deal with, short term, a dip in a player’s form, when multiple players are struggling there’s no way that the team can perform. This is even worse when the top-performing players are nowhere near the top of their game.
If you take a look at Virgil Van Dijk he’s accepted as one of the club’s greatest-ever signings. However, he has been lacking this season with some appalling misses in front of goal.
A loyal fan base
Despite the poor start to the season, Liverpool has one of the most loyal fan bases in football worldwide. Indeed, if you take a look at UK sports streaming trends, it’s Liverpool fans who are streaming more than any others, and this has been a constant for the last 5 years. In fact, Google Trends shows us that Liverpool fans want to stream far more than those at Man City, Spurs, and Chelsea.
This loyal fan base matters. Yes, it may become frustrating, but it still gets behind the team when it matters, and this can significantly impact what happens on the pitch. Whether this will be enough to turn Liverpool’s fortunes around.