KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Have we improved since winning the EPL?

I think no, that was the peak for this team, since then, Firmino and Mane have regressed, VVD is not the player he was before his injury, Tiago is not better than Wij, I would say, only Salah has kept his level. On top of that, all teams know our tactics by heart, so know how to get organised against us. In the mean time, City as a team have improved even if I don't think they have better players and Chelsea have better players and manager. I don't think we will be getting better as this generation grows older, so let's be prepared for some tough years ahead, we are looking like Wenger's Arsenal after he won his last EPL. Let's hope replacing Klopp won't make us become like Arsenal and United when their legendary managers moved on.

We have a fantastic team that would win the prem multiple times in most eras. Unfortunately Man City have perhaps the best prem era team of all time. We've lost two games and are 6 points behind. The problem isn't that Mane and Firmino have slightly regressed - but that we don't have options to rotate in when their form dips. Look at Man City with Sterling, who was their best player last year. He started poorly and Pep just dropped him for other fantastic wingers. We lose Salah or Mane and their squad replacements are a couple of levels below them. Mane should have been dropped at various points this season - and a good understudy come in to compete. We don't have them. We have Minamino, who is nowhere near as effective and not a real winger - and Origi, who is injured most of the time despite being a good clutch player (also not a real winger).

I'd say VVD is close to coming back to form - and our CBs have been a big plus this season. We finally have a good backup for Robbo - but not for Trent. Our midfield is weak and injury prone - and we chose not to replace players like Gini or Shaq.

So the problem is not peaking or regressing - it's not adequately strengthening the squad and plugging the holes. Other great teams (Man City and Chelsea for example) are constantly strengthening, recycling, mixing in acquired and developed players. They have 2-3 quality players for each position. Because we do not do this - we are quickly falling behind.

Agree with all this definitely need our scouting network to step up a bit one signing last summer when 2 players left one of which was auto start elliot was good but not old enough to rely on for a premiership challenge

Agree with all this definitely need our scouting network to step up a bit one signing last summer when 2 players left one of which was auto start elliot was good but not old enough to rely on for a premiership challenge

I think with Gini leaving the balance of the team has changed. We are a more attacking team but also more vulnerable at the back. Thiago has replaced Gini and he regularly gives the ball away whereas Gini rarely did.

Also, we do not have the strength in dept that City do so when a player like Mane goes on a barren run we don’t have the backup options they do.

Unfortunately the only answer is to spend more money to strengthen the depth of the squad.

I think we have regressed and FSG,s unwillingness to support klopp has not helped.

The time to improve the squad is when you are on top. We spurned that opportunity and we all know why and who are responsible

Well, I don't think Gini was the one who made that big a difference, ie, from a Championship winning team by a mile to one which is well below City, yes, that was an element, but not the most important one. I would agree that the depth of our squad is the problem, but it was not bigger when we won the EPL, in fact it was smaller. Our first team players were much better in that season, namely, Mane, Firmino, VVD, maybe even Alisson, TAA and Milner and of course Gini was here, that's half the team which was better

I find this very strange. We have just lost our 2nd game in about 38 and we have regressed? We smashed up the group of death in the CL and we have regressed? We are still in 4 competitions and we have regressed? When was the last time we started a new year in 4 competitions?

Give your heads a wobble lads.

These are very challenging times for everyone. We are second/third best to probably the best team in the world on current form. I have to say current form because that team has still not won a CL and probably won't this year either.

The midfield is unbalanced without Wij. This much is true. There were lots of games when he didn't play exceptionally well but he was always there, rarely unavailable and was always a 7/10 performer unlike Thiago or Ox who throw in the regular 6/10 or worse but unlike Wij can give you more man of the match performances.

I don't think it is possible to replace a player like for like. You always need something a bit different. We are getting that from Elliott, Jones, Morton, Tsimikas and Konate. The squad is picking up experience.

We are not rolling over teams at the moment with a few injuries and Covid absences and City are smashing up the cannon fodder with a full squad available. Every time this sort of thing happens someone comes on here and says we are regressing or something similar.

I would like to know exactly which players are not worth having in this squad that until 5 days ago had lost 1 game in 37.

Everyone is in a panic because AFCON is coming, players are injured, Covid is ripping through the squad and City are winning games and pulling away.

We have been in worse positions than this and pulled through. The squad of 2005 had more injuries than this and players stepped up to the plate and performed.

Give yourselves another head wobble.

Happy 2022 btw !