Liverpool are in trouble – here are seven ways to fix their season

One draw and two defeats in the space of a week have let the air out of Liverpool’s season.

The Europa League campaign is hanging by a thread after a 3-0 defeat in the quarter-final first leg against Atalanta, while the club’s title challenge is also in serious jeopardy after the 2-2 draw at Manchester United and 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

That Palace game was the culmination of problems that have been bubbling below the surface – slow starts, bad finishing and a fragile mentality since the FA Cup exit to Manchester United last month.

But while it may feel like it, Liverpool’s season is far from over. They have mounted more improbable European comebacks under Jurgen Klopp than overturning a three-goal deficit against Atalanta and are only two points behind Manchester City in the Premier League.

So how can they fix their issues to give themselves the best chance of rescuing the campaign?

Give returning stars the consistency of regular starts

Rhythm has become a key part of the vocabulary when talking about returning players under Klopp. Recovering from injuries is only part of the rehabilitation process; the next is building match fitness while playing.

Curtis Jones has been the most recent example. After cameos against Sheffield United and in the league at Old Trafford, he struggled in his first start back from injury against Atalanta and was replaced at half-time. He improved against Palace but was still short of his best, missing a big second-half chance.

Curtis Jones needs minutes (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold are fellow returnees. Jota now has two substitute appearances under his belt, while Liverpool’s vice-captain has one. All three should be integral for the rest of the run-in with others out of form and the injury to right-back Conor Bradley.

Planning and managing minutes have to be pushed to one side. Individuals cannot be put at risk of injury, but Klopp has to pick what he feels is his best XI and largely stick with it. If they can only do 60 minutes, so be it.

Go back to preferred midfield and trust Elliott

Wataru Endo’s blip in form could be negated by dropping Alexis Mac Allister back into the No 6 role and playing Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of him in what was Klopp’s preferred midfield three early in the campaign.

Harvey Elliott’s introduction against Palace last Sunday came too late. Having had a significant influence on matches from the bench this season — including against Palace at Selhurst Park in December when he scored a late winner — he wasn’t given enough time to truly impose himself.

Whether he should be starting is a different question (his impact has not been felt as much when named in the starting XI), but he deserves more minutes.

Start fast by playing for territory

The most noticeable thing about Palace opening the scoring was the inevitability of it. Liverpool have failed to keep a clean sheet at Anfield since mid-December and are consistently conceding the first goal in matches, having done so in 23 of their 51 games.

This has been a recurring theme under Klopp. It began to fester at the end of the quadruple-chasing 2021-22 campaign and became a more pressing problem last season when deficits were not overturned.

Opponents now seem to be targeting a fast start to capitalise on this vulnerability and have been helped by Liverpool preferring to build their way into games rather than begin them full throttle.

Getting back to basics offers a simple solution. Playing for territory and putting opponents on the back foot sounds simple and may not be pretty, but it changes the opposition’s approach to settling into the game. Opponents have been able to show what they’re good at rather than being penned back on the edge of their box.

The return of Alexander-Arnold should help wrestle back the control of games. His passing was not at its pinpoint best when he came on just after half-time against Crystal Palace, but he did try to open up the game in a way others could not.

Make a virtue of being away

It is striking that Liverpool’s slow starts have tended to come at Anfield in recent weeks.

The last time Klopp’s team conceded the first goal in a Premier League away game was at Arsenal on February 4 and before that, at Palace on December 9. It may be no bad thing that their next four matches are all on the road.

It is an easier proposition to play ugly for the opening 15 minutes if you are not trying to appease an expectant home crowd and there is also some value in not having to deal with edginess from your supporters.

The atmosphere for the Palace game last Sunday was not poor, but there was, inevitably, a sense of weary resignation as Liverpool spurned a series of second-half chances. That has the potential to become contagious for players but is far less of an issue away from Anfield.

Use Trent to unlock Salah

Alexander-Arnold’s prolonged absence has seen Liverpool revert to their more trusted 4-3-3 system under Klopp, without the inverted full-back. At times, Joe Gomez has drifted into those areas, but it was noticeable that as soon as Alexander-Arnold came on against Crystal Palace, he immediately picked up the ball between his two centre-backs.

The 25-year-old’s absence has not been felt as heavily as expected with the emergence of Bradley and the form of Gomez. However, they do not possess the technical quality and game-changing talent that Alexander-Arnold does.

He has the ability to make those around him better, particularly Salah, with the pair’s partnership one of the biggest reasons Klopp’s side has been so successful. The flexibility of the pair to move into different areas makes it trickier for opponents to stop them.

Mohamed Salah benefits from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s presence (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

“Mo comes into it at a point where if we’re switching out, we need someone who’s always wide; sometimes I might be wide and Mo will be inside, as a second striker,” Alexander-Arnold said in his recent interview with The Overlap. “Or it might be that if the right midfielder that goes out there – Harvey (Elliott) or Dom (Szoboszlai) – and then I come in and do their job. It’s just very flexible.”

Having as many difference-makers on the pitch as possible is crucial in the closing stages of the campaign. Having one that is integral to helping those around him be better is an even bigger bonus.

Shake up the attack

Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah as Liverpool’s front three is exciting, but their finishing and decision-making when starting together in the last two league games have not been up to standard.

Liverpool attempted 67 shots in their last three games but scored only two goals – one of which was a penalty – from an expected goals (xG) total of 8.3. Their shot map in those matches can be seen below.

Decision-making, coolness under pressure and luck have seemingly deserted them, and while others were also guilty of missing chances, it makes sense to refresh the front line.

Jota and Cody Gakpo both made positive impressions from the bench against Atalanta and Palace and have put a strong case forward for their inclusion from the start.

When Salah was away at AFCON and then injured, Jota stepped up and became Liverpool’s main man.

The Portugal international missed arguably Liverpool’s biggest chance at the weekend when his close-range shot was blocked by Tyrick Mitchell with the goal gaping. However, he is statistically the club’s most clinical striker this season.

Salah has not looked at his peak since his return from injury, but dropping him would be a huge decision. His place in the side should not be untouchable, but it is more likely Klopp rests either Nunez or Diaz, who can fare slightly better as impact players running at tiring defenders after Jota and Gakpo – two of Liverpool’s most relentless pressers – have worn them down.

The alternative, which surprisingly Klopp decided not to do against Crystal Palace, is playing four of his forwards at the same time. It carries risks in transition but can also help pen in opponents and offers an additional goalscoring threat.

Pray for a City-Arsenal semi-final

Controlling the controllables is key, but Champions League progression for both Arsenal and Manchester City could provide a crucial advantage to Liverpool – especially if there is no spectacular comeback from themselves against Atalanta.

The thought of Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola going head-to-head in a Champions League semi-final is mentally draining in itself, never mind for the players involved.

The league matches between the sides were far from enthralling, energetic contests like those played out between City and Liverpool, but the mental and emotional battle to carry out the detailed tactical discipline both managers demand will drain energy resources, which could have a knock-on effect.

City are more experienced in dealing with the pressure at the business end of both competitions. Arsenal, however, lost to Aston Villa after their match against Bayern Munich. Pure coincidence they would argue, but it may be a crack beginning to open.

(Top photos: Getty Images)