Liverpool have made their worst start to a Premier League season under Jürgen Klopp, failing to win any of their opening three matches for the first time since 2012‑13 and being leapfrogged by “crisis club” Manchester United following the defeat at Old Trafford on Monday. We take a look at the reasons why …
A lengthy injury list
Having pushed last season for the reintroduction of the five‑substitutes rule, Klopp has yet to reap the benefits because of a high number of absentees. The Liverpool bench at Old Trafford – though not the starting XI – paled in comparison with the experience and game-changing options available to Erik ten Hag. Klopp had 14 outfield players from what could be considered his first‑choice squad and turned to the 19‑year‑old Fábio Carvalho, making only the third Premier League substitute appearance of his career, to spark the belated response against United. Liverpool started the season with injury problems – Diogo Jota and Ibrahima Konaté chief among them – and the list has grown with every passing week. “The witch” who is cursing the AXA Training Centre according to Klopp is not entirely accountable for stretching Liverpool’s resources. Darwin Núñez is absent because of his own recklessness. The headbutt he landed on Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen means the centre-forward will again be suspended when Liverpool seek their first league win of the season against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Midfield toils
Naby Keïta’s latest fitness problem meant four midfielders were out injured against United, although that does not excuse Liverpool’s inability to deal with the home side’s speed, mobility and aggression. Only one of the quartet – Thiago Alcântara – could be seen as a certain starter with everyone available and Klopp’s decision to keep Fabinho on the bench for the first 59 minutes contributed to the team’s failings. The manager was adamant this summer that there was no need to sign another midfielder, such were the options and qualities at his disposal. Klopp wants to keep a pathway open for teenagers Harvey Elliott and Carvalho, and cannot be faulted for holding to that principle given it has been fundamental to Liverpool’s development as a team and a business on his watch. Starting the 36-year-old James Milner in two of the opening three games is not a healthy sign for a club harbouring title ambitions, however, and without sudden improvement in the treatment room Klopp may need to revise his stance on reinforcement. If he hasn’t already done so, that is. A move for Jude Bellingham is not expected until next summer with Borussia Dortmund refusing to consider selling the England international this season. Milner, Keïta and Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain are out of contract next summer but Liverpool may need to start rebuilding their midfield earlier than planned.
Poor starts
Andy Robertson’s exasperation was palpable after Jadon Sancho had extended Liverpool’s run of conceding first to seven successive Premier League games. Monday was the first loss in the sequence, indeed Liverpool’s first league defeat of 2022 (so let us not send the mantle of crisis club down the M62 just yet), but it has become an alarming habit in keeping with sluggish starts in both away matches this season at Fulham and United. The Scotland captain lamented: “We gave every team a goal start and that’s the base of the game. You can’t keep giving yourself an uphill battle. We’ve conceded an early goal again, started slow again, that’s what needs to change. We need to pull our fingers out quickly.” Liverpool played every game possible last season when reaching a third Champions League final in five years and winning both domestic cups. That came after a rare, extended and uninterrupted pre‑season that stands in stark contrast to the truncated programme in this World Cup year, which included the return of the lucrative overseas tour that Klopp dislikes intensely. Despite the manager’s claims to the contrary, last season’s exertions may have taken a toll – on concentration as well as fitness levels.
Missing Mané and an edge
Losing a player of Sadio Mané’s ability would disrupt any side, especially after six years in which his understanding with Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah was vital to Liverpool’s success, and the transition of Klopp’s forward line has hardly been helped by Núñez’s sending-off in only his second Premier League outing. Or by the continued absence of Jota. The immediate impact of Mané’s departure has been felt in front of goal rather than in Liverpool’s overall game, which will comfort Klopp as he considers how to ignite the campaign. Liverpool have averaged 17.3 shots per game this season. Only Manchester City, with 18, are averaging more. Liverpool continue to dominate possession, averaging 70% per game. Again only City, with 70.5%, have averaged more. But whereas City have registered more shots on target than any other team and scored the joint-highest number of goals, Liverpool are joint 10th for shots on target with 4.3 per game and 10th for goals scored. Klopp touched on the problem at Old Trafford. “Until the final pass or final decision, we played like we should have played,” he said. “Against so many legs in the defence, it is not easy to create a new chance every 20 seconds but we had a lot of moments in the box.”
Disruption and weakness
Liverpool’s frustration has manifested itself in rare shows of dissent and indiscipline. There was the Núñez headbutt – the first red card for violent conduct of the Klopp era – and Milner berating Virgil van Dijk after United’s opening goal. The captain, Jordan Henderson, also exchanged words with Trent Alexander‑Arnold on the Old Trafford pitch. The two defenders could have no complaints. Both were poor on Monday and on the opening day at Fulham. Erik ten Hag targeted Alexander-Arnold and was repaid when the right‑back, as well as van Dijk, switched off for Sancho’s breakthrough. The United manager also sought to exploit the space behind Alexander‑Arnold when Liverpool pressed for an equaliser in the second half, switching Marcus Rashford to the left at half-time and seeing the striker sprint clear for the second goal. Van Dijk has had three central defensive partners in three Premier League matches. He cut a dejected figure on the final whistle, acknowledging the Liverpool fans with brief applause before heading for the changing room, where no doubt a serious bout of self‑criticism took place.
