Increasing Competition in the PL: Where Does Liverpool Go from Here? | OneFootball

Liverpool FC has had a rollicking start to the 2021-22 Premier League season. With spectators back in the Anfield galleries, the team looks rejuvenated, also bolstered by the returning Virgil Van Djik. But, the Premier League has been highly unpredictable in recent years. With the recent Newcastle takeover, and with pretty much all the teams bolstering constantly, staying continuously at the top of the table season after season will not be a simple nut to crack for Jurgen Klopp and co.

From squad issues to financial advancement, what should Liverpool and its owners do in order to keep the club at the top of its game? Let’s explore.

Solidifying the Managerial Position

Every successful Premier League side that has a sustained period of success in the top flight, has had a stationery manager at the helm of things. Even if the manager has changed in such scenarios, the philosophy or the playing style of the club stayed put.

In Liverpool’s defense, they have been patient enough. The success the club has witnessed in the last 3 seasons, including a Champions League trophy and a League trophy after God-knows-how-many years, can be subjected to the patience of Jurgen Klopp. The manager is at the club for a long time now, and his philosophy of mixing young talent with experience and resilience has proved vital for the club’s success.

But, with competition rising in the League exponentially every season, and also with different clubs and national teams lurking viciously, it’s high time the club tied down Jurgen for the long term. He is the best person to hold on to his legacy at the club, and better yet, to become one of the best managers in the PL history.

Offloading the Dead-Weights

For the club to sustain the pressure financially, it has to put down some of the dead weights that are holding the club back. There are quite a few high-wage players constantly decorating the benches, who need to go. Period.

One of these dead-weights is certainly the England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. After arriving at Liverpool from Arsenal in 2017 for 35m Pounds, the speedster has made over a hundred appearances for the club. But throughout his Liverpool career, he has been plagued with injuries, meaning he hasn’t really had a proper run of matches in the reds of Liverpool. With a 120k Pounds per week wage attached to his name, the Ox is one player the club should be looking to move elsewhere. Other fringe players like Divock Origi, James Milner, and even Naby Keita could be included in this list.

Proper Investment

The Premier League has become one of the most investment-friendly sports leagues in the world in recent years. With financial heavyweights Man City, Man United, Chelsea, etc investing big money for talent from across the globe, where does Liverpool stand?

Liverpool has never been the biggest spenders. But, now more than ever, the club needs to spend cleverly. With the squad performing nicely at the highest level in every competition it’s participating in, the bench needs some reinforcement too. It needs word-class backup op[tions to sustain the pressure of a long and hard season. Thus, making it more important to scout properly, and also to keep an open eye.

One of the recent rumors surrounding Liverpool has been the return of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona. The prodigal son of Liverpool was instrumental in Jurgen’s early success at the club. His return looks like the perfect next move to solidify the midfield that has looked shaky at times this season.

The Influx of Youth

This is one sector Liverpool has excelled in for quite some time now. Especially after Jurgen’s arrival at the club, the average age of the first time has decreased amazingly. Players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez, Harvey Elliott, etc have come through the ranks, and straight into the first team.

But, in the last couple of summers, many of the Anfield faithful have accused the club of not showing enough ambition in the transfer market, when it comes to young talent.

In order to build for the future, Liverpool needs to shore up its ranks, and replace the deadweights with the influx of youth. With all of that, the historical club can regain its dominance of English and European football.

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