Liverpool’s alarming slump threatens more than title hopes as top-four panic grows

Mohamed Salah reacts after defeat to Burnley

Klopp admitted it is not an easy situation to rectify and absorbed the blame for Liverpool no longer having credence in their offensive powers.

While the season has been so unpredictable to this point, with both Manchester clubs having already navigated a slump, Mikel Arteta steering Arsenal away from one and Frank Lampard in danger of being sacked at Chelsea, it can be concretely said that the Merseysiders haven’t looked or played like champions over the past month.

That is not to say they won’t be or are incapable of a mighty strong turnaround – Liverpool did become the masters in responding to setbacks – but the current situation invites fears about the top-four tussle, let alone retaining the championship.

As Klopp himself put it: “Look, how silly would that be if I sit here now, losing against Burnley, didn’t score for the last four games and talk about the title race? How silly would that be?

“It’s just we have to win football games – it was always like this. For this we have to score goals, there is no doubt about it. That’s what we have to change and have to do better.

“If things don’t work, you have to work harder, do the right things more often, longer and more consistent, all these kind of things. But I’m not talking like it is an easy situation, it’s not. It shows a lot of things.

Klopp reacts as Liverpool struggle against Burnley

“The boys have the right information, they get the right information, but when I say it is my fault maybe I was not convincing enough, I could not give enough confidence, that’s my job as well.

“I cannot say we are not confident enough and then say, ‘I don’t know why that happened.’ That is how I understand the job. It is about crossing in the right moment, passing in the right moment and all these kind of things.

“It is not rocket science, but obviously it didn’t happen again.”

Making the right decision in the final third needs to become elementary for Liverpool instantly, with an FA Cup fourth-road trip to United followed by away league trips to Tottenham and West Ham.

February is no kinder, with a home match against City before Leicester and RB Leipzig away.

After that is the Merseyside derby at Anfield and Liverpool will be hoping that a run of more expansive opponents allows them to find their stride and survey the form table with more pride.

Source: Read Full Article