3 Biggest Concerns for Liverpool's Fans in 2015/16 Season so Far
Such is the disposition of the demanding, modern football fan, there will always be concerns for those populating terraces and sofas worldwide, even if your team is riding on a wave of positivity. This is particularly apparent among Liverpool supporters, with the Reds boasting one of English football's most passionate followings.
Jurgen Klopp's arrival as manager has boosted the morale of fans and players alike, but the level-headed German himself admitted at the beginning of his tenure that he "can’t walk on water."
Speaking to the Independent's Tim Rich in October, the Liverpool boss said:
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"Expectations are important in life. After all this hype, we can cool down and talk about football. But expectations are one of the most important things we have to talk about.
Liverpool fans have been waiting for so many years that I can understand they are losing patience, but it doesn’t work like that. Some things will change, because I am different to other managers, but we cannot change the whole world in one day.
"
With his arrival coinciding with the second international break of the 2015/16 campaign, Klopp was able to set in motion changes that have heralded three wins, three draws and just one loss in his first seven outings as Reds manager. But as his side part for the third frustrating pause in proceedings, there is still work to do.
Klopp's concerns will likely mirror those of the Anfield support, and there are three outstanding issues that must be confronted this season.
Injury Problems
Only nine of Klopp's senior squad have been called up to their respective national teams for this international break, underlining a major concern hampering Liverpool this season.
Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana, Simon Mignolet, Christian Benteke, Divock Origi, Martin Skrtel, Emre Can, Joe Allen and Adam Bogdan have all left Merseyside to meet up with their international colleagues, as detailed by This is Anfield's Henry Jackson, while the majority of Klopp's squad remain at the club's training facility.
This is largely due to a plethora of injury problems, with 10 players on the sidelines.
This includes summer signings Joe Gomez and Danny Ings, who both suffered season-ending ACL injuries at the beginning of October. Key players Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and Mamadou Sakho are also out, with the latter expected to miss up to eight weeks of action with a knee injury, according to the Guardian's Andy Hunter.
Between them, Henderson and Sturridge have made just five Premier League appearances so far this season, with the England duo particularly important members of Klopp's starting lineup.
Elsewhere, Jordon Ibe, James Milner, Kolo Toure, Jon Flanagan and Jordan Rossiter are also unavailable, serving as a prime example of the restrictions the Reds have contended with this season.
Throughout 2015/16 so far, Liverpool have struggled with a lack of squad depth—and none more so than at this juncture under Klopp's management.
Sakho's injury leaves the 48-year-old with a back four of Clyne, Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno, with only academy players Connor Randall (full-back) and Daniel Cleary (centre-back) as cover until Toure returns.
Meanwhile, Henderson's absence has seen regular midfielders Milner, Can and Lucas Leiva overworked—noticeably affecting the output of both Milner and Can. Injuries to Sturridge, Ings and Christian Benteke this season saw 20-year-old striker Divock Origi unsuccessfully lead the line in the first four games of Klopp's tenure, with 19-year-old academy forward Jerome Sinclair serving as backup.
Perhaps most importantly, however, Henderson's injury has left Liverpool without their captain, and with Klopp looking to instil belief within his new squad, a lack of authority has seen them struggle.
James Milner's Form
Prior to the hamstring injury that saw him pull out of England duty, Milner has led Klopp's Liverpool in Henderson's absence. But in doing so, the 29-year-old has experienced a worrying drop in form.
Signed to replace the outgoing Steven Gerrard, who joined MLS franchise LA Galaxy after a 17-year spell with the Reds, Milner was primed to take up an important role under former manager Brendan Rodgers.
Speaking to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo during Liverpool's pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia, the Ulsterman said:
"We had to work very hard to get [Milner] in but we will see over the course of the season how important he is for us.
He has wonderful personality and is a top class footballer. When you see him playing in his favourite position, all his qualities come out.
We wanted more goals from midfield and with James that was the idea.
"
After losing their top goalscorer from 2014/15 in Gerrard, Milner was tasked with providing both goals and assists, with Rodgers looking to harness his industry and quality as a "a top-class professional."
This is reflected in Milner's wage of £150,000 per week, the promise of a regular role in the centre of midfield—the former Manchester City man's favoured position—and the club's vice-captaincy. An experienced, top-level midfielder, Milner was well placed to excel as part of a new-look Liverpool.
But with Rodgers' departure and Klopp's arrival, Milner's situation has altered significantly. Not only burdened with the armband, the Yorkshireman has been regularly deployed in a demanding, confused role in Klopp's 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-2-1 formations; expected to cover at central midfield and at right-back, as well as supporting attacks on the right flank.
Withdrawn from this role during October's 3-1 win away to Chelsea, Klopp seemingly recognised Milner's struggle, and as B/R's Matt Ladson attested earlier this month, Henderson's return could see him drop out of the starting lineup altogether.
Rodgers expected Milner to take up the mantle as one of Liverpool's primary goalscorers from the midfield, but so far this season, he has netted just once in 11 games—though this is indicative of a wider issue.
Goalscoring Woes
Where Henderson's injury has left Liverpool devoid of leadership, Sturridge's layoff has significantly weakened the Reds' threat on goal, with Klopp's side scoring just 13 goals in 12 Premier League games this season—only six teams have scored fewer, none of whom currently reside in the top 10.
Sturridge is Liverpool's finest centre-forward option, having scored 37 goals in 58 league games since arriving from Chelsea, but his fragility is representative of a crippled strike force on Merseyside.
Benteke began Klopp's tenure on the sidelines and has continued to struggle to adapt to a side that has looked at odds with his physical attributes in the final third. The £32.5 million fee sanctioned to secure his move from Aston Villa this summer represented something of a gamble—despite his obvious quality.
The Belgian is Liverpool's joint-top scorer in the Premier League this season, joining Philippe Coutinho on four goals, but with leading lights such as Jamie Vardy (12), Odion Ighalo (7) and Romelu Lukaku (7) highlighting the importance of an in-form centre-forward to a team's success, his situation is worrying.
This is only exacerbated by Ings' layoff and Origi's inexperience, while a lack of goals from midfield—Coutinho aside—and set pieces has contributed significantly to the Reds' goal difference of minus-one.
However, with Benteke working his way back to form, and the likes of Sturridge, Henderson, Milner and Ibe set to return from injury at the end of the international break, there is hope on the horizon for Klopp and his Liverpool side.
It is crucial to note that, despite these concerns affecting the Reds' progress so far under Klopp, they are largely temporary.
As the monotony of a largely futile international break plays out, Klopp will be looking to use this time off to build and to work on the issues that are concerning Liverpool supporters at present.
"We cannot change the whole world in one day," he professed shortly after his arrival.
But the international break has afforded him 12 uninterrupted days to continue to change Merseyside fortunes.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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