Can Liverpool turn around flailing title charge?

Ever since former Borussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp arrived in Liverpool, the Reds have been a favourite for neutrals. They often play the game of the weekend, with a high number of chances and goals – for and against. The 2017-18 season was the perfect example of that, culminating in a tired Reds side losing without much of a fight in the Champions League final to Real Madrid in Kiev, going down 3-1. However, this year, the more controlled Liverpool side that has played most of the reason has been, some might say, a touch duller.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, through injury and fatigue, have struggled to keep up the pace of last year. Of the much vaunted forward three, only Senegal star Sadio Mane has really kept up his form from last year. However, the improved defence of Liverpool showed that they had handled their need to be the neutrals’ team: many 3-2 games soon turned into 1-0 and 2-1 results.

The inclusion of Alisson Becker, from AS Roma, is key to that. Unlike the fumbling Loris Karius, Becker has been a major signing and a big contributor to the league challenge. However, a rather tame European campaign has helped to feed into the idea that, without being so exciting, are Liverpool really as good as last year?

Embed from Getty Images

For many, they are far less exciting to watch. And while that means conceding fewer goals, it also means scoring a lot less. The likes of Salah and Firmino are naturally the ones taking much of the blame. But the lack of goals from midfield, from Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum and especially Naby Keita, has been a huge letdown. The loss of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a blow, and his timely return could not come quick enough.

Can the Ox help to revive the Reds?

By getting the former Arsenal man fit again, Liverpool could bring some much-needed drive to the middle of the pitch. Keita was supposed to add this, but has failed to fire whatsoever at Liverpool, outside of sporadic moments in games.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, though, shoots from distance and does not mind trying something different. Given that the Liverpool problem of late has been scoring goals in tight matches, that could be essential to changing the team dynamic once again. With so many similar midfielders who stay behind the ball, where Liverpool can attack from has become surprisingly unimpressive and lacking in ambition.

Embed from Getty Images

If they are to get back on track, it feels like Chamberlain could be a major part of that. Impressive in the extreme last year, if he can return from injury a fraction of the player then he could be decisive in helping Liverpool over the line.

With the points deficit now eaten up and Liverpool playing catch-up to City, they need to find form – now. A failure to do so will see them struggle to keep up the title chase for much longer. And with a midfield that feels so sedate, it’s going to be an essential change. The Anfield side are still in this title race: but a repeat of February will soon see that change for the worse.

Featured image: “Sevilla FC – Liverpool” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by tquifes