Heading into the summer of 2020, we knew at long last Lovren would be off. And the club, whether Klopp or FSG, or both decided we wouldn't spend money on a replacement. That wouldn't have been costly thing to do. Given Van Dijk's fitness at Liverpool until the Merseyside Derby, a body was needed who was adaquete. Instead we banked on Fabinho, the best DM in the world being able to cover if required. It should be also noted the club were trying to ship out Phillips in the summer too, whom, og her than a passing nightmare against Newcastle, and being skinned once by Wilson, has been pretty damn solid.
When the Van Dijk injury occured, I hoped big time the club would either sign someone on a free transfer, that being Garay. I was being called called nuts for asking for him back in Oct. Whatever of his last injury and age, he is a leader, experienced, available and would be adaquete cover and just get by until January. The Gomez injury happened not long after Van Dijk went down. Both being said to miss the entire season. I hoped a Minamino deal would be sorted, ie: by mid to late Dec so the player would be in the door by January 1st. Many where desperately and frankly delusional begging for an Upmencano, which was never going to happen given everything going on in the world, but further cemented once Leipzig drew us. This wasn't a Rennes selling to Mendy late on to Chelsea situation. Nonetheless, I'd hoped for a roughly 15-20M signing, and ideally an extra signing, be it loan or someome with 6 months left on their current deal. Just for example, Schaar at Newcastle for example.
We did everything pretty much right on the pitch to get to top of the table by January 1st. And that is the most frustrating part of all this. Once Van Dijk went down, I said we just have to keep within touching distance of whomever was leading the league. 7-9 points at worst was what I had mind, given also how long long Thiago and Jota were to be out for, which was far longer than any us imagined. We exceeded this goal and then some!
Van Dijk, Fabinho, Gomez, Jota, Thiago *, Alisson, Salah *, Trent *, Shaqiri, Keita, Matip, Henderson, Mane, and even Milner ffs all been injured. I know dumbasses will go off on complaining about Liverpool moaning, like Keane earlier, but peak United, Arsenal, Chelsea or City never suffered anything like this. But again, the hard work was done in getting to January. I do not for the life of me understand the thinking of banking on Matip being remaining fit for a large chunk of second half of the season when, other then a 6 month period in 2018/2019, he has failed, much like Lovren to stay fit for more than a handful of games his entire Liverpool career. The CL winning season was the outliner. It was absolute madness and a result we trudged through ankle high in mud and shit as the team, on fumes and a resistance to change things up stylistically somewhat.
Both Kabak and Davies, or a Car or whatever, should have been brought in sooner, and thus phased in sooner. Once the Brighton game passed, despite feint hope Klopp would play one today alongside, I imagined Fabinho if fit, otherwise Phillips, either starting against City was a pipe dream. But really, whatever of City's football, Phillips did little wrong to deserve being dropped.
Whatever of the front three themselves this season, we don't help them by messing around constantly with who is the most regular player in behind them for the most part. Gini is being run into the ground, and I don't care how fit for his age he is, it is insanity. Thiago having to play deeper, and being the last line infront of a makeshift defense is also baffling. Thiago isn't a Pirlo, Alonso or my namesake position wise. Can he do a job? Sure. But he is more in the Modric mould who can also play as the ten if required. He is also coming off a nasty injury too. On top of COVID after a non-existent pre-season.
Jones, while excellent, and was that today as well, needs to be managed due to his age, I get that. But why didn't he start Brighton midweek after his impressive sub appearance against West Ham? Ox also done well in that game too.
Then there is Minamino which has me super frustrated. If you saw extended highlights, it was like seeing peak Kagawa at times, even putting aside the goal, he was lively and involved in most things offensively for Southampton. If the rumour is true he is a bad trainer, which I find it difficult to believe as someone like Mersch or Hasenhuttel would never want someone like that in their starting XIs, did it warrant him being frozen out since his impressive performance vs Palace? No. Palace was one very few instances where he wasn't shunted on the RW. The other thing some have suggested is his pressing is a bit 'aimless' let's say. Without purpose. Maybe so. But don't tell me Firmino to name one is pressing well this season. He is losing possession a lot too.
But the main thing is, we have sacrificed midfield class, and today it told. Our POTY last season, and the best DM in the world are playing 20 yards deeper, and cannot engage with the likes of Silva, Gundogan and Foden in the areas they excel in, snuffing out their threat. This is more a general post rather than a game specific one, so I won't ramble on too much about it.
Look, it fucking sucks. This is the best team in my lifetime supporting the club since 94/95 season. We have rotten luck between injuries and VAR this season. But from January 1st. We haven't helped ourselves whatsoever. This last year has effected a lot of our mental health as is. And I even said it to friends in December, it is hard to fully enjoy this season. The Van Dijk injury, followed by Jota, Thiago and Gomez left me half hearted at times this season, on top of the VAR and official incompetence. Even just the games coming thick and fast is just burnout. We didn't really have time to celebrate the league of course, but to soak it in, at least I didn't anyway. I was going through some heavy stuff in my personal life around the Barca 2nd leg to end of the summer that left me shaken, so I didn't get to enjoy that anywhere near as much as I did 2005. And then COVID happened, because of course, it occurs when we were having the season we were having. Really, the first lockdown in England should have occured sooner, by a month, and who knows, maybe our form is less affected than it was. Gotta remember how gruelling the fixture list was for us onwards from Club World Cup. Again, rambling here I am.
I just hope Klopp finally allows Kabak and Davies to get minutes now, be it as a pair or one alongside Phillips before the Leipzig game. Kabak will be up for the battle with Vardy next up. We just badly, urgently need Henderson and Fabinho back in their best positions starting now.