With the first weekend of April came the intense clash of the Premier League’s focus battle “Reds Derby”, which ended in a 2-2 draw. At this point, the league table also showed a competitive pattern between the three forces. Arsenal held a certain advantage in terms of points and goal difference, but the remaining schedule was full of challenges for them. On the other hand, Manchester City, despite trailing in points, had a relatively easy set of upcoming matches. Liverpool, positioned between them, was neither in the most ideal nor the worst situation concerning the title race.
However, before April’s skies cleared, Liverpool had already begun to fall behind. Looking back at Liverpool’s recent decline, people have different opinions on what the triggering point was:
Some believe it was the defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on April 14, with a 1-0 loss that allowed Manchester City to overtake them in points.
Others point to the April 12 loss to Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-finals as the moment, with the heavy 0-3 blow taking away Liverpool’s spirit.
There are also views on the April 7 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League, or more specifically, it was caused by an error from midfielder Kuansi.
Yet others think the disaster began with the FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester United on March 17…
Liverpool’s multiple defeats and dropped points in a short period are enough to show that their collapse was not accidental. Looking at the latest league table, while at first glance Liverpool’s situation does not seem the worst, anyone with a deeper understanding of the Premier League competition and Manchester City’s stability can see Liverpool’s current predicaments.
Half a month ago, when the three giants were left with 7 games to stand off for the title, we conducted an in-depth analysis of their situation. Even if Manchester City’s remaining schedule seemed winnable, Arsenal and Liverpool faced a visibly higher difficulty to win seven consecutive games. For Liverpool, if they could not win all, they at least had to minimize point losses and ensure that any dropped points were without regrets, meaning to leave those points to strong teams.
However, in the seven-game sprint that Liverpool had originally envisioned, real tests like Tottenham and Aston Villa had not yet arrived, but they already lost two matches. In the competition with Manchester City, even a single loss seemed superfluous, and Liverpool unfortunately lost two ahead of time, making the situation worse.
Even if, in the upcoming games, opponents Arsenal and Manchester City give them more chances, whether Liverpool can seize them remains to be seen. As their coach Klopp said: “Even if Manchester City and Arsenal lose all the remaining matches, if we continue to play like we did tonight (referring to a defeat), nothing will change.”
Moreover, Liverpool’s recent poor performance also inevitably reminds people of the fact that Coach Klopp is slated to leave at the end of the season. When Klopp announced his departure, the team was leading on all fronts. They beat Chelsea in the EFL Cup final on February 25, winning their first trophy of the season. At that time, they still hoped to continue to compete for the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League titles. However, since the FA Cup defeat on March 17, the situation has been unravelling.
The defeat in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals has made it difficult for Liverpool to conceal the scent of risk. Their once ambitious dream of a quadruple title challenge has long since burst, leaving their sole remaining hope in jeopardy. Their recent loss in the Merseyside derby further implies that their fight for the Premier League title is nearly a lost cause.
As Klopp heads into his final season, he may only secure the honor of winning the EFL Cup, which is far from a perfect farewell for him and the team.
Regarding the future of Liverpool, despite the season not yet being over, it already seems beyond recovery. This season has been a real test for Liverpool, and while they’ve shown resilience by often turning the tables in matches, it also highlights their lack of ease in winning compared to Manchester City.
Even if Manchester City fails to clinch the title, they maintain a high scoring rate, whereas Liverpool’s results are more inconsistent, suggesting extremes of either high success or severe disappointment. Many fans believe that Klopp has elevated Liverpool beyond their level. Despite criticism during poor performances, the extent of Klopp’s positive impact on the team might become more evident in the next season.
As for Liverpool’s current dilemma and the direction of future development, does anyone have different opinions? Feel free to leave comments and engage in discussion.
