A Tough Week for Liverpool
Liverpool is looking back on a rough patch as they head into the international break. A Week of Hard Knocks for Liverpool saw them struggle both in the league and Europe, raising worries about tiredness, squad depth, and their attack. A Week of Hard Knocks for Liverpool.
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Even though they were close to winning the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season, the Reds faced two tough losses that revealed some issues. They got knocked out of the Champions League at Anfield by Paris Saint-Germain, losing 1-0 before falling in a penalty shootout. Just a few days later, they had what many are calling their worst performance under Slot, losing 2-1 to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final. Liverpool scored only in stoppage time and were outshot by ten attempts.
Fatigue Is a Factor
These setbacks aren’t likely to derail Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes, but they’ve shown some important lessons for the rest of the season. A big reason for their recent troubles is fatigue. Slot’s squad went through a tough schedule, playing 11 games in just 39 days, which is about one match every three days across four different competitions.
The benefit of finishing at the top of their Champions League group was wiped out by the busy knockout-stage schedule, forcing them to play back-to-back league matches without a real break. Although they managed some important wins, like against Wolves and PSG in the first leg, their performance dropped as tiredness kicked in.
You could see fatigue affecting their losses to PSG and Newcastle. Liverpool seemed sluggish during extra time against PSG and struggled to get into the game against Newcastle. On top of that, key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch picked up injuries, raising concerns for upcoming matches. A Week of Hard Knocks for Liverpool.
Mental and Emotional Strain
Aside from being physically tired, the mental blow of getting knocked out of the Champions League also affected Liverpool. Football journalist Darren Lewis pointed out how the disappointment carried over into the Carabao Cup final.
You can tell right away when the other team isn’t on their game. Newcastle looked ready, while Liverpool seemed to lack that intensity, he said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show on Optus Sport.
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given agreed, saying Newcastle took full advantage of Liverpool’s emotional and physical fatigue.
Watching Liverpool go through extra time and penalties against PSG, it felt like the perfect time to play them, Given said. They’re likely to win the league, but for Eddie Howe and his team, it was a great chance. A Week of Hard Knocks for Liverpool.
Squad Rotation Issues
One reason Liverpool is dealing with fatigue is that Slot hasn’t rotated his squad much. Backup players like Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo, and Harvey Elliott haven’t gotten a lot of playtime, even though they’ve shown promise.
Even in an easy win against Southampton, none of them started, leading to some criticism of Slot’s choices. This lack of trust in his bench has led to key players being overworked, which has hurt their sharpness.
Concerns About the Attack
Liverpool’s attack has also come under fire. While Mohamed Salah has been playing well, others aren’t stepping up. Luis Diaz, who had a strong start to the season, has only scored once this year. Diogo Jota hasn’t found the back of the net since mid-January.
Darwin Nunez, another key player, played an important role in the win over Southampton but missed a penalty in the PSG shootout, showing his inconsistency. With Salah struggling against PSG and Newcastle, Liverpool’s lack of attacking depth has been exposed.
With questions around the futures of both Nunez and Diaz, Liverpool might need to reassess their attacking options in the summer transfer window. If Slot can’t get his forwards back on track soon, a major rebuild might be needed to keep Liverpool strong.
Time to Reset
Liverpool now has time to rest and regroup, as their next match isn’t until early April. This break is a chance for Slot and his players to recharge and work on their tactics in training. Despite the recent setbacks, they’re still in a good position to win their second-ever Premier League title, which would be a big deal for both the club and their new manager.
But the last couple of weeks have been a wake-up call. Liverpool is strong, but they’re not unbeatable. If they want ongoing success, they’ll need to make improvements in squad depth and player fitness on Merseyside.
