Three reasons why Liverpool will finish outside the top four this season
COMMENT By Matt Farr
Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes have taken a beating in the new year, and even with a convincing victory over rivals Tottenham at the weekend, their title dream appears all but over.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are now 11 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea, but they will hold a very faint hope of the Blues slipping up following their 1-1 draw with Burnley on Sunday.
However, even if Chelsea do slip up, the margin they currently have over Liverpool means the Reds would have to do very well to catch them; and it will most likely require them to win the majority of their remaining games.
Therefore, Liverpool look destined to face-off with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United in the hunt to finish in the top-four, but even that is not a guarantee – and here are three reasons why they will undoubtedly come up short:
Game mentality
It’s been a very mixed bag for Liverpool this season. They’ve shown they can handle the big occasion by beating some of their title rivals, yet they’ve also rolled over and shown their soft underbelly against the smaller sides.
So far this season, Liverpool have beaten each of their main rivals – Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham – while they have also held Manchester United to a goalless draw.
However, they have also been beaten by Burnley, Hull, Swansea and Bournemouth, four sides that currently sit in the bottom-half of the table.
If Liverpool want to finish in the top-four, they will not only have to maintain their record against the big sides, but they must also ensure they can beat everyone else.
They face a Leicester side devoid of all confidence in their next outing, but they must later face-off against several of the sides they have struggled against between now and the end of the campaign.
March, for example, will be a pivotal month for them. They begin at home to Arsenal, before hosting Burnley, and finishing with a trip to Manchester City. It will be major test of their resolve going from one big game to another, but that’s life in the Premier League.
Unfortunately, Liverpool have not been able to handle it.
Not enough reinforcements
Klopp had the perfect opportunity last month to address the problems in his squad from the first-half of the campaign – and there were a few.
Most notably was the defensive issues that have haunted them for quite some time. Yet again, Liverpool find themselves without a reliable goalkeeper, while their back-four remains a liability.
They have conceded 30 goals in the Premier League this season – more than any other side in the top seven – and a new defender or two could have made a huge difference.
However, Klopp instead stuck with an unchanged first-team squad, and it will – and has – cost them.
During the transfer window period alone, Liverpool conceded two or more goals on three occasions (against Sunderland, Wolves and Swansea) while their only clean-sheets came in the FA Cup double against League Two side Plymouth.
The right-back position is perhaps the area of least concern for Klopp, but they are prone to errors all across the back-four.
A goalkeeper, a central defender, and a left-back were the minimum defensive requirements for the club last month, and Klopp did nothing to change that.
He may have the necessary faith in his side to do the business, but if Liverpool’s top-four hopes depend on them keeping clean sheets, the Anfield chief will soon find himself horrible mistaken.
Cannot afford a slip-up
The harsh reality is, Liverpool could not only finish outside the top-four, but they could also finish well short in sixth, seventh or even eighth.
Manchester City (5th) are already level on points with Liverpool, and are behind on goal-difference alone, while Manchester United (6th) are just one point behind.
United have been in particularly good form, and are currently unbeaten in the league in 16 games. They have so far played it cool in the race for the top-four, but now Jose Mourinho’s men are mounting their charge.
If Liverpool lose or draw to Leicester next week, they could find themselves behind both Manchester clubs, and chasing behind the eight ball.
Merseyside rivals Everton are a little further off with a seven-point deficit, but that could change fast.
With tricky games against Arsenal, City, Everton, Southampton and Stoke still to come, Liverpool really cannot afford to slip up.
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