To say that Liverpool’s start to the season has been underwhelming would be somewhat of an understatement.
For the past few years, barring the 2020/21 campaign, many have been used to the Reds racking up wins week in, week out. To some extent, it’s likely that Jurgen Klopp himself had become accustomed to such form.
This season it’s anything but that, so far. Just a month into the campaign, and six Premier League fixtures, Liverpool have amassed just nine points from a possible 18 on offer.
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Arguably the definition of mid-table form. But seasons are never defined by how you start them, although it can make things an awful lot more complicated if you don’t get points on the board early.
This form has led to some suggestions across social media that this could be a ‘transition’ season for Liverpool. Not everyone seems to agree with this assessment, and pretty much every Kopite will have their own view on why the start to the campaign has not gone to plan.
In reality, there is very rarely one solitary reason behind a decline in form. Often there are a number of contributing factors, some of which are not always in the club’s control.
Injuries, for example, have been on the wrong side of luck once again. This time it’s led to a lack of numbers in midfield, as opposed to the defence like two seasons ago.
Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones and Jordan Henderson have all suffered injuries within the first month of the season. Before the deadline day business, that is five of the Reds’ eight senior midfielders unavailable, with only Fabinho, James Milner and Harvey Elliott left.
Some may argue, though, that even with the injuries, the players that Klopp has included in his line-ups have been more than good enough to get wins, and still haven’t done the job. The win against Bournemouth aside, pretty much every match Liverpool have played this season has been a battle from minute one. And there is more than just one reason for it.
What must also be considered is the quality of the opposition. Quite often when a team doesn’t win - like in the cases against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Everton this season - the aftermath is dominated by criticism of how Liverpool have played, rather than giving credit to the opposition.
But where the term ‘transition’ really starts to be noted is when it comes to transfers. It’s a topic that has dominated the summer, with the transfer window only recently closing.
Liverpool brought in four new players for the season ahead, although one of those was in the final hours of the window. Before that, Darwin Nunez, Calvin Ramsay and Fabio Carvalho were brought to the club.
Then came Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus. It was a last-minute deal thanks to the growing number of injuries in Liverpool’s midfield, with the club adopting a ‘needs-must’ approach.
What must also be remembered is the departures at Anfield this summer. Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi have all left the club, having played a key role in their own ways last term.
Let’s not forget Luis Diaz was only brought to the club in January, as well. He, whilst showing clear talent and suitability for Liverpool’s style of play, is still finding his feet in English football.
Diaz has the potential to reach the heights that Mane achieved in a Liverpool shirt, but he is not there yet. When you factor in the other changes this summer, it’s understandable to see labels such as ‘transition’ being thrown around.
Nunez is also still settling in at Anfield, as is Carvalho. Both players are also very different to what Liverpool have had in the Klopp era, and given the financial outlay as well as their young ages, are the future of the club and will need time to become the finished articles.
We have seen glimpses of the abilities of both players, but neither have shown it on a consistent level just yet. In fairness, neither have had long runs in the team for various reasons, so it would be unfair to judge them in this regard.
So injuries, form and the quality of the opposition have meant that Liverpool have not been able to perform at their absolute best this season. But when you factor in the transfer activity on top of that, then there may well be some truth to the suggestions the Reds are set for a ‘transition’ campaign.
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