Liverpool have evidently been below par so far this season with their expectations of trying to retain the Premier League title almost certainly dashed after their poor form during the current campaign.
Believe it or not, the Reds now find themselves in a battle for top-four to secure a spot in next seasons Champions League with Manchester City now likely to run away with the title – but there seems to be a pretty reasonable explanation as to why Liverpool haven’t been at the level we have become so accustomed too over recent seasons.
On yesterday’s edition of Monday Night Football on Sky Sports, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher along with guest Chris Coleman delivered an interesting and from the sounds of it, accurate verdict, as to why Liverpool have experienced this dip in form this season…
#MNF analysis of Liverpool’s players minutes & appearances since the 2018 CL final!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 8, 2021
As you can see from the video above, Liverpool’s favoured starting XI is not very different from the one that started our 2018 Champions league final where we lost to Real Madrid, with only three players starting less than 50% of our games since then – with Loris Karius leaving the club on loan, Dejan Lovren also eventually leaving the club, and James Milner being replaced in the starting XI by Fabinho.
When you look at the percentage of games that most of that side have played since then is staggering and clearly shows that their fitness has caught up with them after playing the style of football we have for so long – but that clearly has produced results with us winning the Champions League the following season and then the Premier League title the next.
Are Liverpool out of the title race?
Yes
No
As Carragher says, Klopp doesn’t have the squad depth to be able to rest some of our star players from time to time – sadly for Liverpool, our bench doesn’t possess the fire-power or talent that could dislodge anyone in our starting XI. You can only be as good as the players in front of you and unfortunately, our bench is nowhere near better than the individuals regularly starting games.
What do you think Liverpool fans, do you agree with Carragher? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below…