The Reds’ Premier League title defense has fallen completely but they could still save their season by seeing Leipzig in Budapest
Okay, what the new kind of hell awaits Liverpool this week?
Just when the Reds thought their season had reached rock level, they went and found another trap door to fall through.
The defeat of Fulham who are in danger of relegation on Sunday represents a new low for Jurgen Klopp and his bereaved soldiers, who have now lost their last six games in a row at Anfield, and have taken just 12 of the last 42 Premier League points on offer.
At the top of the list at Christmas time, Liverpool will find themselves in the middle before March. Their title defense was over by the end of January, and even the idea of a rectangular finish looks fanciful now.
At this point, they do well to make the top. 10. The question now is, if we ask, how bad will things get?
There is a perception that it only needs to improve, that the quality of the players and the manager will tell in the end, that things will click and that good fortune will turn.
But what if it doesn’t? What if it gets worse before it gets better? No, could I?
Klopp said on Sunday that the Solace Champions League could provide some supplies, at the time of this crisis.
Liverpool kicked off their European campaign on Wednesday night with the second leg of their last-16 tie against RB Leipzig, a ‘home’ game that will, like the first leg in three weeks, be played in Budapest.
With the recent struggles at Reds’ Anfield – they failed to win their last eight games there, and received just one penalty over their last seven – that would not be a negative usually.
Klopp’s side arrive carrying a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, and are naturally strong to capture their place in the semi-finals. And what much encouragement was needed.
Yet it would be dangerous to accept that progress has been made. Liverpool’s form is too poor, their facilities too long, their confidence too fragile.
They don’t get a goal from goals, their midfield is loose and the center of defense, whoever plays, has no experience at this level.
Leipzig may have been a suspect in the first leg, their sloppiness deserves to be punished by Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, but Julian Nagelsmann knows his side are still very much in the link.
Score first, as there have been plenty of sides against Liverpool lately, and the Reds ’weak credit will be pushed to a whole new level.
The Germans have been playing well themselves. On both sides of that loss in Hungary, they have won their last eight home games, including a 3-0 away win at Freiburg at the weekend.
Even in the first leg, they caused a lot of trouble for Liverpool, and if it wasn’t for Alisson Becker, post width and a bit of a waste finish, the connection could have been a lot closer.
Klopp, of course, would argue that he deserves some good luck right now, and for fairness their own team had chances to make their win even greater.
Liverpool have lost their captain, Jordan Henderson, with an injury from the first leg, but he will get a raise when Fabinho is available, who returned himself last week.
Brazil started at midfield in the loss to Chelsea last Thursday, but came on as a substitute in midfield while the Reds ran the game against Fulham on Sunday.
He’d love to see most of that continue, but Klopp didn’t take much away at his pre-game press conference yesterday. “I know [what I will do], but I won’t say, ”he laughed.
Ozan Kabak could return after losing a Fulham game with a groin issue to himself, and Klopp could give Nat Phillips a European debut, in which he would represent another incredible step forward for the 23-year-old.
Phillips was not even registered for the group stages, as Liverpool expected him to leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window. Instead, he was pushed into action and, in fairness, has not allowed anyone to go down to his nine league shows so far.
In attack, Mane should return to starting XI at the expense of Xherdan Shaqiri, although Roberto Firmino misses out due to a knee issue.
The Brazilian form by then had been the subject of debate, with only six goals in 37 appearances so far this term. Whatever other features it brings, its scoring schedule remains a major concern.
The return of Diogo Jota is, therefore, in good time. The Portugal international finished 90 minutes on Sunday, and his strength and speed on the counter could be crucial against a side as open as Leipzig.
We saw earlier in the season, especially away at Atalanta, how efficient it can be when it comes to space and service. He has three more goals for Firmino this season and just two less than Mane, despite missing the best part of three months through injury.
It seems foolish to suggest that Liverpool should go into Wednesday ‘s game. They have the box seat, and their two ‘away’ goals look priceless. Score first at ‘home’, and that should be it.
Ought to.
“We’re in this game long enough to know we’re not qualified yet,” Klopp said Tuesday. “Leipzig is good, there is nothing else to say about it. They have a very good team and a good manager. ”
It’s time for Liverpool to remind the world that the same is true of themselves. It is time for Klopp and his players to prove that form is temporary but the class is permanent.
Fail in Budapest, and they will certainly have hit a rock bottom.