Season Review
ARTICLE BY MATTY
With how often I contribute here, I wouldn’t be surprised if people thought I was a mod. Trust
me, I don’t want to be, my life is busy enough, but still, I really like doing this type of thing. Nice break from the usual.
Three days after that dreaded Everton match, and here I thought I’d be feeling more rational.
But nope, I’m still absolutely fuming. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ll support these
guys to the end of the world until they stop caring. And in what I thought was a HUGE game, a
game where we’d show a statement of intent that we are better than their abrasive, injury causing style, we came out flatter than a pancake and didn’t even look upset to lose. Except
Klopp of course, but we’ll get to that later. It inspired me to do a review of the season so far for
each and every first team player. You may agree, you may disagree. Note that I’m welcome to
discussion either way. Now I’m not grading them or ranking their performance on a scale, but
rather am looking strictly at performance. Don’t expect this to be my usual stats and figures
analysis either. This is purely from the heart.
Alisson: Our last truly world-class signing that transformed the side, he’s had it a bit rough at
times but has overall been solid. Battling illness and injury at times, he still puts in great
performances consistently and has stood strong in the wake of the defense in front of him
crumbling due to injury and ineffectiveness. The City and Leicester games are aberrations, not
the norm, for the world’s second-best keeper (sorry but Neuer is better at the moment).
Adrian: Y’know, I thought the abuse he got was overblown until I watched him on television
against Villa and Everton when Alisson was first injured this year. And I lost my mind with him. He’s got an ego bigger than Karius and barely has half the ability of the much-maligned
German. I mean, it honestly looks like he doesn’t know how to play goalie most times he plays.
I defended him until I saw him with my own eyes and I honestly can’t believe it didn’t take
sooner for Kelleher to overtake him in the pecking order. He’s gone in the summer for sure and I can’t say I’m too displeased.
Caoimhin Kelleher: If you can’t tell, I take particular pride in this one because of my Irish
heritage. THE IRISHMAN, as I call him, stood in for Alisson and did extraordinarily well. I’m
proud of him for stepping up the way he has and he should be the long-term backup unless he
wants to leave for a starting job. And if he does, I can’t blame him. His distribution is awesome
and his shot-stopping is great too. Really glad he stuck with it and forced his way into the
squad.
Andy Robertson: Robbo, Rambo, the Flying Scotsman. Whatever you want to call our starting
left-back, he’s been consistently good this season. He’s suffered the occasional dip in form,
which is to be expected when the backup keeps getting unfortunate injuries. However, he’s
been really good and one of our best performers this season. Can’t say much bad about him.
Kostas Tsimikas: Somebody I was pounding the table for this summer over Jamal Lewis,
Kostas has been unfortunate with injuries this season and would have likely shined had he
done better. Between a bout with COVID, a hamstring injury, and another leg injury suffered in the same game as Jota’s knee injury, he’s barely played this year. However, he can be just as
good as Robbo when healthy and assimilated into the side. Give him another year and he can
hopefully get over the injury issues and be a great squad player for us.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: This is a complicated one. He’s produced the occasional stunner of a
performance, showing us all that he’s easily the best right-back in the world on his day. Yet he’s
fallen flat more often than not, and I think you could definitely make the case for COVID having a factor. He and Mane both haven’t been the same players since they battled the virus, with Mane lacking his usual speed and precision while Trent lacks in decision-making and
positioning. He just doesn’t look quite up to speed most days. Amazing player, no doubt, but
he hasn’t been quite at his usual standards this year.
Neco Williams: Definitely someone that I’m a bit disappointed in. I was one of the few who
thought selling off Hoever was the right decision, as I thought Neco had surpassed him in
terms of ability. I half-expected Neco to turn into a solid starting option by the end of the year,
that’s how meteoric his rise was last year. And yet, while Hoever is starting for Wolves at times, Neco can’t get a game at all. His early-season performances were mildly disappointing, but it was when Trent had his knee injury (another reason for Trent’s lack of pace at times?) that I thought “Finally, some consistent game time will show his worth”, only for him to stink up the place. I don’t really know what to do with him, and I’m glad I don’t have to know. Personally, I’d loan him out and bring in someone for a year, then see if someone like Lamptey is available if Neco doesn’t progress further after next year. I will say for him, though, that the abuse he got was absolutely unacceptable and might have messed with him mentally.
Virgil van Dijk: His usual imperious best, despite errors creeping in here and there, before
Pickford laid him out. Rest up and get back soon, big man.
Joe Gomez: This next season will really be a defining moment in Joe’s career. When he’s
played over the past few years, I’ve been impressed with him. His pace is extraordinary for a
center-back and he developed a nice rapport with Trent on the right side of the defense. His
passing was improving, his chemistry with Virgil was growing, everything was going great.
Then Project Restart happened, where he looked a bit shaky at times. Then this season
started, where he continued to look a bit shaky before he suffered a major injury in training for England’s national team. Next year will answer two things for me: whether or not he’s fit to be Virgil’s successor as leader of the backline and whether or not his injuries will prevent him from being that type of player.
Joel Matip: I dare you to find a player more frustrating than Matip. He comes into the side, he’s brilliant. He looks like the second-best in the world playing next to Virgil, making it an extremely tough choice for Klopp in regards to whether Matip or Gomez starts. Matip stays healthy and plays like this for all of three games before a long injury lay-off occurs. Wash, rinse, repeat for five years and you can see why, as great of a player as Joel is, I really am losing my patience with him. As much as it’d hurt, it’d be good business to try and get as much as we can for him and buy a younger player of similar ability to challenge Gomez.
Ozan Kabak: I thought it was a smart piece of business by Klopp to bring him in. Young, tough,
and someone we’ve had our eye on for a very long time, Kabak was going to be at least good
enough for fourth-choice, I thought. That was until I saw him against Everton, totally exposed.
His positioning isn’t great, his foot speed terrible, he looked utterly helpless and hopeless. I
figured that maybe he could stay and learn enough to potentially start someday. But I see that
the hype machine has made him look much better than he is. He’s currently not of Liverpool
quality, and I don’t know if the limitations he has will prevent him from ever being good enough for us.
Ben Davies: I’m intrigued about him, but he’s a total unknown at this point because he hasn’t
played. I’m willing to say he’s already better than Kabak though.
Nat Phillips: A tidy player who has played well whenever called upon. His foot speed is a major concern, especially with the high line we play, but as a fourth or fifth choice he isn’t too bad. However, like Kelleher, I assume he’ll leave at some point, if not this summer, to pursue starting opportunities elsewhere. For the way he’s played this year, he deserves that at least.
Rhys Williams: Yeah, I know he looked a bit frazzled at times. And yes, his foot speed is a
concern (see a worrying trend yet among our depth at center-back?). But I think another loan
could do him a world of good. I’ve still got a fair amount of hope in young Rhys becoming
good enough to at least be third or fourth choice down the line. He’d have to go through a
consistently bad spell like Neco for me to begin to lose hope in him being good enough for us.
Fabinho: Simply awesome when healthy. Didn’t look bad at all playing out of position for nearly the entire campaign. It’s unfortunate that he’s been injured recently, but I hope he can come back ready and raring to finish off yet another strong season in our colors. I also feel that, back in his natural spot next year, we’ll concede a lot less with him playing as our safety net in midfield. Another one that has suffered the occasional dip in performance due to lack of rest.
Jordan Henderson: I imagine we’d be in a really bad spot without our captain being available to steady the ship most days. His performances in the midfield have become more and more vital as more players get injured and unfortunately it seems he may be gone for a while. If that’s the case, then we’re really screwed. He’s a leader, one of our best players, and constantly adapting his game to better himself for what Klopp demands of him. You can’t ask for much more out of our captain. Okay, maybe the occasional screamer, Gerrard-style, but that’s about it.
Gini Wijnaldum: He’s one that I think has suffered both from a lack of rest and playing out of
position. Used mainly as a 6, his dribbling has been restrained and his ball distribution, which
hasn’t ever really been a strong suit of his, has been called into question. Not to mention his
contract ending in June, meaning that his future is a pressing concern. He’s an absolute tank
and is key to the way we usually play. However, the question must be asked of how much
longer do we want to play the same way when that way has no longer yielded much results
since last February? Personally, given how adaptable he is, I’d like to sign him up quickly and
keep him around.
Thiago: The main man, supposed to elevate our midfield to the next level. Has he done so? Not
really. Does this mean he’s a bust of a transfer, or a square peg in a round hole? I don’t think
so. He definitely gave us a different element to the midfield when we were fully healthy. I don’t think I’ll ever forget how good he looked barely a day after signing for us, against Chelsea. Yet, after battles with COVID, a nasty injury from Richarlison, and a cast of characters constantly changing behind him, his performances have been inconsistent at best. Look at this past week for example. Absolutely brilliant against Leipzig, nothing to write home about against Everton. I think, with some more movement from the forwards and some more stability around him, he’ll more likely be the player we saw school Chelsea than the player we’ve seen thus far.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Jeez, between Sturridge and now Ox, I firmly believe the 15 shirt is cursed. Better not give it to any new signing. Ox was someone I was stunned by when he got
here; he was playing the best football of his career and looked to be exactly like the player I
want now: a robust force who can create and score from distance. Unfortunately, since that
fateful Roma game, he hasn’t been the same. After more injuries and frustration, he just
doesn’t look the same anymore. On one hand, I want him to stay one more year to win some
more and hopefully recapture a bit of the old magic. On the other hand, maybe a heartbreaking good-bye is best for both parties. He’ll be a smashing “What If…” story on some fan’s website five years from now. Just writing this out depresses me.
Naby Keita: Remember earlier when I dared you to find a player more frustrating than Matip?
Well, HERE HE IS! I was SO hyped when he got here, I thought he and Ox were going to
absolutely destroy teams. I was sold on both his previous track record and his potential for
more. Yet, after three years, all that Naby seems to be is potential. He had his moments, such
as the first leg against Barcelona and the 15-second goal at Huddersfield. His dribbling dazzled
and his pressing was amazing, capable of breaking the lines better than almost anyone. Yet,
between injuries and occasional ineffectiveness, he hasn’t lived up to the hype. A much better
player on FIFA Mobile than in real life, one that I wouldn’t hesitate to sell.
Curtis Jones: I remember, after the Champions League win, I said to watch out for this kid
because I thought he was the next Gerrard. Was I putting a ton of hype and pressure on
someone who was then 18? Yes. Has he lived up to that hype? Absolutely. He’s on track to be
an absolute legend, combining Gini’s ball-carrying with Thiago’s passing and Naby’s
penetrative dribbling. His pressing and leadership remind me of Captain Hendo, making me
think that perhaps I was dead on in naming him the next Gerrard. Now, is he a bit over-zealous at times? Yes. Does he make the occasional mistake? Yes. But those will be ironed out over time, I think. We’ve got a special one here, folks. Let’s enjoy it.
James Milner: The old workhorse, my mother’s favorite, and a leader in the locker room. What’s not to like about old James Milner? Personally, between the injuries he’s had over the past year and that he’s starting to look more and more off the pace at times, I’d be willing to give him one more year, let him retire or go to Leeds, and then immediately snap him up as an assistant coach the second he retires. Having his influence around the grounds for long after his playing days are over would be something I’d love to see. Until that day happens, keep on running, James!
Xherdan Shaqiri: I’m gonna steal a bit of a song for a second here, from the highlight of his
Liverpool career, scoring two goals to beat United: “Subbed on tonight, you know his thighs
are wide, his shorts and socks are tight, 2-1 (deflection!), 3-1 (deflection!), Xherdan Shaqiri,
Shaqiri!” Yes, Shaq is someone I think we all enjoy watching play, but between injuries and
inconsistency, combined with the fact that there’s a need for younger and more talented
players to support and eventually replace the front three, he’ll likely be gone in the summer.
Like Ox, I think I’ll look back and wonder “What if he didn’t get injured so often?” I think he
might’ve been the new Coutinho, if I’m honest, if he hadn’t.
Takumi Minamino: I’m technically including him because he played for us this year and factors into next year. I liked the idea of getting him more playing time while on loan, and he seems to have made the most of his time at Southampton so far. However, I can’t shake the feeling that he won’t stick around. He looked pretty good sometimes, yet Klopp would rarely ever use him. Not to mention that, no matter where we play him, Taki’s fit in the formations we use just doesn’t look right. Someone else I was really hyped about that hasn’t really done a lot. Maybe I’m wrong and he comes back and shines for us, who knows? The Japanese merchandise we’ve sold because of him cover whatever we paid for him, easily.
Divock Origi: Cool personality who showed up in huge moments for us in the past. However,
after more than a year of looking lackluster and totally out of sync with the rest of squad, it’s
time for him to look for a new team.
Mo Salah: You can argue a lot of things, but you can’t argue the talent of Mo Salah. Often
touted as a “one year wonder”, he currently leads the Premier League in goals in the hunt for
his third Golden Boot in four years. Impressive, isn’t it? While some would say he’s become
more predictable and that he scores mainly in bunches, I can’t necessarily disagree. However,
nobody seems capable of stopping him when he’s on his game, and it’s been this way for four
years now. I think our Egyptian king deserves a bit more respect on his name.
Sadio Mane: I don’t think there’s stats out there to prove this, but I’d argue Sadio was at his
rampaging best until he contracted COVID and has been a shell of himself since. His burst just
isn’t there, and while a lack of rest can certainly contribute to that, I wouldn’t be surprised to
see if he isn’t harboring some long-term effects. For example, many athletes say their lung
capacity isn’t quite what it was after battling the virus, and for a player who relies on pace and
trickery like Sadio, that’s a big deal. He hasn’t been the same for quite a while now, but I’d wait
until next year to see if he’s starting to lose ability due to age. He’s a legend in my eyes and
someone who I want to retire in our colors, so perhaps I’m being more lenient on his lack of
form than I should be.
Roberto Firmino: Bobby. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby. Where did it all go wrong, man? You were
absolutely brilliant in 2018, nearly as good in 2019, then fell off the proverbial cliff in 2020 in
terms of goal-scoring. I mean, he didn’t even score at Anfield until the second-last game of the
season! His finishing is nowhere near where it used to be, and while I know he does so much
more for us, I can’t help but feel he’s been run into the ground over the past four years and just doesn’t have it anymore. This is why I’d suggest a move into midfield: he can occupy many of the same areas, his finishing wouldn’t matter as much, we’d presumably rotate the midfield
more than the forwards, and perhaps his creativity could give a relatively stale midfield, in my
opinion, some new life. Another one that I want to retire a Red, but that looks less and less
feasible whenever he misses another sitter.
Diogo Jota: I saved my Player of the Season for last. I had faith that we knew what we were
doing snatching him from Wolves, but I didn’t think he’d be THIS good! He’s phenomenal,
versatile, and scores tons of goals. He could be a star for us for a very long time. When he
comes back, he better start all of the time, as I think his form has been far and away the best
on the team all year. I’m glad he’s coming back from injury soon, it’ll provide a timely boost.
BONUS:
Jurgen Klopp: Klopp just seems exasperated and tired. He’s obviously dealing with a lot of guilt and grief with the recent loss of his mother, and he seems more and more angry with the refs and his players. I really don’t want this to happen, but I do think it’s a possibility he takes a sabbatical if we don’t make top four. He, like the squad, seems to need a bit of a refresh. No
matter what happens, I think we can all agree that we will always revere the name Jurgen
Klopp for what he’s done for us. He’s made us believe again, he’s won us the Premier League
and Champions League. Klopp has restored the golden days. It’s on the rest of the club to
continue making profits to extend that golden age.
Recent Comments