What’s the story of the season at Anfield? Why are last season’s Premier League runners-up facing their lowest finish since 2016?
There is no beating around the bush, this season at Anfield has been severely disappointing across the board. Having finished within a whisker of footballing immortality last May as Liverpool narrowly missed out on an unprecedented quadruple, there was a huge amount of optimism heading into the new season, with them bolstered by the arrival of Darwin Nunez, the club-record retention of Mohamed Salah and a first full pre-season for Luis Diaz.
However, currently sitting 12 points adrift of Champions League qualification and in serious danger of missing out on a place in Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2017, there are a number of different reasons being cited as the Reds' downfall.
Unexpected individual slumps, see Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk and Salah, as well as a collective hangover from last season's tiresome 63-game campaign have both been noted as reasons behind such inconsistencies.
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Perhaps the most irritating factor for regular watchers of Liverpool, however, has been the array of glaring issues that have made it near impossible to single out just one mitigating factor, as was the case in 2020/21 when a below-par second half of the season was justified by the absence of all four senior defenders.
The historic thrashing of Manchester United at Anfield last month, as well as victories over Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and a spirited display against league leaders Arsenal on Sunday, show there is still a wealth of quality in the squad, but channelling that on a consistent basis has been a real problem.
What is the current mood going into Elland Road on Monday night after four without a win in the league? Is there confidence because of Liverpool’s status over Leeds or real concerns about the hosts doing the double?
Despite heading into Monday's game off the back of a spirited second-half display against Arsenal last weekend, there is an underlying sense of apprehension ahead of the visit across the Pennines. Having taken a mere 13 points from a possible 45 away from home in the Premier League this season, and with so many performances on the road lacking any sense fight or of conviction, it's no surprise to hear supporters' bellies have begun to flutter with butterflies.
Despite Leeds also being a side that has struggled with consistency for large parts of the season, one thing for sure is under the lights at Elland Road, with Premier League survival on the line, Liverpool won't be afforded the luxury of being able to ghost their way through the opening half-hour. As was the case on Sunday at Anfield.
If they do, Javi Garcia's side, roared on by the home faithful, will be sure to punish Liverpool, you would imagine.
How do Leeds win this game? Where can Liverpool, who have lost eight of their 15 away games, be got at?
Belief. That's the one thing Liverpool have given so many of their opponents on the road this season. With the world-class talents on display, Liverpool tend to start quite ok and find themselves presented with a barrage of chances.
Yet a lack of ruthlessness, as seen away at Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth earlier in the campaign, allows teams to hang on in the hope it might just be their day and if they stick to the plan they could just catch Liverpool out on the break. As Leeds will know all too well from their visit to Anfield back in October.
Individually, the right-hand side will no doubt be the area Gracia and Leeds will look to target, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, because of his attacking expertise, often caught up in a more advanced position in the final third of the pitch. If not addressed, players like Luis Sinisterra will no doubt be prompted to cause havoc.
What is the perception on Merseyside of Leeds from afar this season?
We can all safely say this season's fight for survival in the Premier League is without a doubt one of the most gripping the division has ever seen. While it feels pretty much impossible to call which three teams will fall short in their bid to beat the drop, there is a strong feeling Leeds' defensive vulnerabilities could finally catch up with them this season and prove to be their downfall.
It will be tight, that's for sure.
Finally, what does the future hold for James Milner? If he does leave Liverpool, as expected, this summer, is there still enough in those legs to play in the top flight if not the Championship? Do you get the sense he would want to keep going at 37?
First and foremost, it's important to state the obvious: James Milner is a bonafide Liverpool legend. At this moment in time, similarly to 12 months ago before he eventually penned a new one-year extension at Anfield, it remains to be seen whether the 37-year-old will accept further reduced terms to prolong his eight-year stay.
Milner would be the first to admit he has played far more minutes than he would have imagined when he signed along the dotted lines last summer. In fact, across all competitions, he has racked up more minutes than Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
This highlights just how valued he is by Klopp, even in the twilight stages of his illustrious playing career. Certainly, the hope is Milner and Liverpool can come to some kind of agreement in the summer to extend his stay, with his value to Liverpool off-the-field and behind the scenes something that cannot be quantified when building a successful dressing room.
If he was to leave Anfield, and there have been tentative rumours of a swansong return to boyhood club Leeds United, it would certainly be a fantastic addition regardless of what division the Whites find themselves competing in next season. In the meantime, though, here's to hoping the man dubbed by the Kop as 'Yorkshire Gold' can prolong his stay at Anfield and add a few more trophies to his cabinet.
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