It is no big secret that a lot of Liverpool’s struggles this season have stemmed from the fact the midfield looks spent. Fighting on all fronts and playing 63 games last year has clearly taken its toll on the side.
There are other issues that need to be resolved like the collapse of Liverpool’s forward press, but that kind of thing can be coached and is likely more representative of the Reds' new-look attack slowly adapting to the Premier League and Jurgen Klopp’s tactics.
Unfortunately, the decline in midfield isn’t something that can be saved through coaching alone. The legs of certain stars are not what they used to be, and with much of Liverpool’s recent success built upon an industrious and relentless midfield, that’s a serious problem. Several players in that department are set to leave this summer too, when their current contracts expire.
