The Reds have endured a difficult start to the campaign, but brighter days lie ahead…
A season which promised everything has so far turned out to be a fairly mixed bag, as far as Liverpool are concerned.
As the Premier League breaks for the World Cup, the Reds sit sixth in the Premier League table, 15 points off top spot and facing a battle even to finish in the top four.
So consistent and so reliable for so long, Jurgen Klopp’s side have been anything but so far. They may have secured qualification for the Champions League last 16 with some comfort, but domestically theirs has been a campaign of disappointment, with moments of promise overshadowed by a series of underwhelming performances and morale-sapping defeats.
Already, they have lost twice as many league matches (four) than in the whole of last season, but the recent trend, at least, is upward, with a first away win of the campaign at Tottenham followed up by a 3-1 victory against Southampton on Saturday.
The expectation is that they will improve after the World Cup, when key players should return from injury and when they have traditionally come on strong in recent years, but the fact that the idea of a title challenge at Anfield already feels like it is off the table tells you just how much they will need to.
Here, GOAL takes a look at the first three-and-a-half months of 2022-23…
Getty Images`Best player
It was Luis Diaz who carried the fight in the opening weeks of the season, the Colombian showing the kind of energy, skill and determination that so many of his colleagues were lacking. He departed injured against Arsenal last month, but should be back by the time the league resumes on Boxing Day.
In Diaz’s absence, Mohamed Salah has been the man to step up to the plate. The Egyptian is on 14 goals for the season, including seven in the Champions League, two at Tottenham and the all-important winner against Manchester City. Where would Liverpool be without their Egyptian superstar?
AdvertisementGetty ImagesBest performance
Considering they’ve had a 9-0 win and a 7-1 win, it says a lot that the victory over Manchester City at Anfield in October takes this by some distance.
Liverpool arrived into that game low, having been beaten at Arsenal the previous week, but the sight of Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Co. seemed to stir something in Klopp’s men.
They delivered a display of immense concentration, defensive solidity, teamwork and counter-attacking quality to hand the champions their first loss of the season.
Getty ImagesBest goal
Another award for Salah, whose winner against Manchester City was a masterpiece, showcasing all of his unique talent.
Reading the flight of Alisson’s long pass was one thing, but to ease Joao Cancelo out of the way while simultaneously bringing the ball under his spell, and then to show the speed and composure to run clear and slot home in front of the Kop, said it all. A very special footballer.
Getty ImagesBest new signing
Well the field for this one is a little narrow, but it’s fair to say that Darwin Nunez has already made quite the impression on Reds fans, good and bad.
The good is that the Uruguayan looks capable of scoring bagfuls of goals, that he has personality and work ethic and serious potential.
The bad is that he marked his Anfield debut with a red card for headbutting Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen, which cost him the chance to build momentum early in the season.
Still, a return of nine goals in nine starts is more than decent. Expect him to get better and better as the season goes on.