admin Liverpool endured a dismal 22/23 campaign due to injuries, an ageing midfield and signings needing time to adapt, but Jurgen Klopp needs his Reds to be flawless if they are to challenge Man City again
Jurgen Klopp knows Liverpool cannot compete financially with Manchester City.However, there is no doubt that the Reds boss will plan how to get his side back to competing with them on the pitch even if they fail in the transfer market.
That’s because Klopp and Liverpool are the only ones in England who have been able to truly side with Pep Guardiola in the last six years. Without Liverpool it would have been six titles in six years for the blue half of Manchester.
Their 2020 Premier League triumph is aging like fine wine as City continue to dominate this month, sweeping the continent with European Cup successes.
Despite all the rumors that Arsenal City were chasing the title, the Gunners lacked the firepower to get through to the final day. Manchester United finished second twice, but were so far behind that you could hardly tell in the rear-view mirror.
In addition to winning a title,Liverpool reached Game 38 twice, assuring City they needed a win to cross the finish line. They had 97 points (one loss) and 92 – and still finished second.
The Reds have reached three European Cup finals since 2018, City two and one triumph each.It was a rivalry in England.
But now Liverpool have yet to grow to face Guardiola and his team-mates again. Because last season, Klopp’s team collapsed, collapsed and lost momentum.
In 2021 there were excuses when they were miles from town.There have been reports of COVID, injuries to their main defenders and empty pitches.
Last season also saw injuries, but the Reds looked like a team tired of quadrupling and broken the mission of finding perfection to challenge City.
Klopp himself was sometimes nervous. He signed a new contract in April 2022 as the team seemed ready to move on. After a year it seemed to him that the task had become even bigger than he had thought.
It is understood last summer that some areas needed refurbishment work. Not a complete remodel but a refurbishment and that would take time.
With Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz the style of play was changed following the arrival of Darwin Nunez and then Cody Gakpo. But the Reds struggled for consistency all season and couldn’t claim that fifth place was less than they deserved.
They knew it would be costly not to sign Aurelien Tchouameni last season but concluded Jude Bellingham alone would not be enough to transform the aging midfielder.
The pursuit of the England midfielder was called off and numerous reinforcements were pushed in his place.
Alexis Mac Allister has achieved what could prove to be a target, although it’s closer to the suggested £55m than the stated £35m.
However, it is likely that one or two from Khephren Thuram, Manu Kone or Ryan Gravenberch could also join. Maybe Moises Caicedo if the prices are realistic.
There are expected to be additions in other positions, too.
The work has begun but more is needed over the coming weeks with Klopp now alongside new sporting director and old friend Jorg Schmadtke to get deals done. They will hope that should the right players arrive, last season will be seen as a blip rather than a sign that someone else will need to take on the mantle of chasing City.
Those around them are strengthening, though. Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle will all want to improve while Brighton and Aston Villa may continue to grow.
Liverpool have been City’s only real challengers for the last six years but now they face the challenge of proving they can do it once more.
