Liverpool have had a crazier 2021 than most – a lot has changed over the last 12 months. Let’s have a look at where the Reds were a year ago and everything we’ve seen since.
Liverpool at Christmas 2020
Liverpool were top of the pile a year ago. That’s quite crazy to think about, given everything we saw before and after that.
Their last two results had been very special, in fact, with a 2-1 win over second-place Tottenham Hotspur creating some distance before a 7-0 win at Crystal Palace. And this is despite the fact that Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the season in October, with Joe Gomez following suit a few weeks later.
Both Thiago and Diogo Jota were out with long injuries, too. It appeared, however, that the Reds were an unstoppable force where even injuries to key players couldn’t derail them.
2021 rings in
And then the injuries really hit. The warning signs were there as Liverpool drew both of their final fixtures to end 2020. Then came a defeat at Southampton, a draw with Manchester United and a loss at home to Burnley – their first in years.
Liverpool then lost Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson by early February, bringing on an awful two-month period. They lost to Brighton, Manchester City, Leicester City, Everton, Chelsea and Fulham by March’s midpoint. The title dream was long gone and top-four qualification looked incredibly difficult.
Klopp turns it around
Jurgen Klopp admits he got things wrong around this period. He reacted to absences by playing people out of position, trying to get as much talent on the pitch as he could. But by April, Klopp had put Fabinho back in midfield and used Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams as centre-backs – two wildly inexperienced players.
That turned things around, however, with Liverpool putting a run of form together than clinched a third-place finish. It was incredible from Klopp and one of the most important changes he’s ever made.
Reinforcements
Liverpool didn’t do much in the summer, other than signing Ibrahima Konate to reinforce the defence. But all three of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez returned from their long-term injuries to play in pre-season.
The Reds would go again.
Change of plan
We’re seeing a slightly different Liverpool this season. Thankfully, injuries have been okay by last season’s standards and the changes were tactical.
Liverpool make sure Mohamed Salah drifts a little wider, Trent Alexander-Arnold moves more central, and their right-sided midfielder switches with the two of them. It’s been a right-sided triple-threat that teams struggle to deal with.
It’s having great effects on players. Sadio Mane, for one, is having a different kind of season. Trent Alexander-Arnold might be in the form of his life, too, while Mohamed Salah simply must be the world’s best player right now.
We go again
And now we’re back to Christmas. Liverpool are actually one place back compared to 2020, sitting a few points behind Manchester City. Yet, there’s far more optimism over a title challenge.
The squad is staying relatively strong, the team is only improving together in a slightly new system, and certain players keep getting better. 2021 never looked like being successful – 2022, though? Liverpool might just find their best once again.
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