3 Christmas Wishes for Liverpool Fans
Are the footballing gods feeling charitable as we close in on Christmas? Because Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side need a lot of attention if they are to be solid challengers at the top end of the Premier League table and in Europe this season.
After a bright start to his managerial reign, Klopp has seen a miserable—and rather predictable—drop in form from his fledgling side, with losses to Newcastle United and Watford and draws with FC Sion and West Bromwich Albion in their last four games undoing all the good work shown in their 6-1 mauling of Southampton in the League Cup at the beginning of December.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Klopp's arrival brought a warm glow to Merseyside, erasing memories of the woeful last months of Brendan Rodgers' tenure. And during this festive season, the German's infectious positivity has been unavoidable.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager came as an early Christmas present for the club, the players and the supporters—but in the spirit of this gluttonous modern age, what else can Liverpool supporters wish for?
Here are three Christmas wishes for Liverpool fans, including a bright future for the injury-stricken Daniel Sturridge.
An Injury-Free 2016
Throughout 2015, the Reds squad has been hit by a number of major injuries, and this has been no less true during Klopp's three months in charge; when one player makes his return, another goes down in agony, depriving the German of any momentum.
This Christmas, Liverpool have nine senior players on the treatment table with Sturridge, Martin Skrtel, James Milner, Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren, Jordan Rossiter, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez and Jon Flanagan all at various stages in their recovery. It leaves the Reds with the second most injuries of any side in the Premier League, behind Newcastle United (10), according to PhysioRoom.com.
Sturridge's problems have been most worrying in 2015, with the England striker missing 26 games over 205 days with hip, knee and hamstring injuries, and he looks set to begin 2016 on the sidelines, too.
Liverpool's No. 15 has made just six appearances for the club so far in 2015/16, but having scored four goals in that time, his importance to the side when fit is clear.
Sturridge joins both Gomez and Ings with an indeterminate recovery time, as the young duo sustained season-ending ACL injuries at the beginning of Klopp's time at the club.
Gomez and Ings had quickly found rhythm in Rodgers' first-team setup, with the former operating efficiently in a number of roles in defence, while the latter had scored two goals in five appearances in the league.
Speaking to NBC Sports (h/t the Liverpool Echo) at the beginning of December, Ings explained his situation in recovery:
"When I got the injury I said straight away I will play again before the season finishes.
But I think with the advice I've had of the surgeons and physios, I know they won't risk me and I don't want to risk it myself.
This is all about the highs and lows of football. I was at the happiest point of my career and then, at the time of the injury, I felt like I was at my lowest point.
I just felt like I got my foot in the door.
I was becoming established here at Liverpool, playing games and scoring goals, keeping my place in the team and had made my debut for England, then somebody took that all away from me.
"
These injuries have left Klopp's squad thin, and the manager is desperately clawing for options as he finds his best starting lineup.
Though it would take a miracle for Liverpool to go through 2016 without any major injuries, this would no doubt be at the top of supporters' lists when it comes to Christmas wishes.
Top Four and a Trophy
When owners John W. Henry and Tom Werner laid out the objectives for the season for Rodgers, it is likely that they featured a top-four finish and some form of silverware—be that in the UEFA Europa League, or either of the FA Cup or the Capital One Cup.
This is the perennial ambition for the Reds, perhaps belying their lowly status in recent seasons.
Klopp stressed on his arrival that he had not been set any targets beyond "[playing] football with a recognisable brand," as relayed by German publication Bild (h/t the Guardian), but his reputation as a top-level manager has enhanced supporters' hopes of immediate success.
"What's realistic is to finish in the top four but it would be great to win a trophy for the supporters," said legendary former Liverpool striker Ian Rush, per the Press Association (h/t the Daily Mail) earlier this month, later adding that "every competition you play in you want to win. You shouldn't go into it if you don't expect to win."
This is a belief held by Liverpool's captain, Jordan Henderson, as he explained the club's official website in July:
"Getting back into the Champions League is a big objective for us, but also winning trophies—Liverpool Football Club should be winning trophies every year.
So that's another aim for us. I think it is realistic, with the players we have got and the manager we have got, I feel that we can achieve those things.
In the FA Cup, Europa League and League Cup, we want to be challenging and winning. And obviously in the league, we want to be right up there challenging and hopefully get into the Champions League places as well.
"
It can certainly be argued that Liverpool have a better chance than ever to finish in the top four of the Premier League, with reigning champions Chelsea beginning the season in miserable form and the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Everton all struggling to put together an extended run of results.
Leicester City end the year at the top of the table, while Crystal Palace, Watford, West Brom and Stoke City can all harbour realistic ambitions of European qualification—but, on paper, Liverpool should be expecting to finish higher than these clubs.
In the Europa League, a favourable draw with Augsburg gives the Reds a reasonable chance of progress, while an upcoming Capital One Cup semi-final against Stoke offers the German his first opportunity at a cup final in England.
Elsewhere, Liverpool's FA Cup third-round tie sees them pitted against Exeter City of League Two.
Liverpool still have everything to play for, and they look able to fulfil supporters' craving for silverware—something that star midfielder Philippe Coutinho is desperate to achieve, as he explained to the club's official website.
"We're in a very good position," he said. "It's the goal of everyone involved, we're all focused on fighting for the trophies and I think we have a great chance in the competitions we're in this year."
A player of Coutinho's calibre, who has been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona already this season, per Fichajes.net (h/t George Bellshaw of the Metro), should be fighting for trophies on a regular basis. Liverpool should look to match the Brazilian's ambition before he is tempted to opt for the bright lights of La Liga.
More Jurgen Klopp Magic
If bionic legs for Sturridge and a easy passage to Europa League success is too much to ask for this Christmas, perhaps Liverpool supporters can content themselves with more of the charismatic Klopp.
Liverpool parting ways with Rodgers was inevitable. The Ulsterman's managerial nous was buckling under the weight of expectation, and a lifeless dressing room resulted in a number of worrying defeats.
Liverpool were linked with moves for both Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti on Rodgers' departure, and though the realists on Merseyside expected a less ambitious appointment, Henry and Werner landed on the perfect one.
Klopp is a proven top-level manager boasting a wealth of success at Dortmund and, importantly, can relate to the club's ethos of passion, attractive attacking football and a sensitive approach to youth development.
The 48-year-old has enthralled the English press with soundbites and touchline gymnastics, and he has provided the Premier League with character.
Klopp is a credit to the league, and he must be cherished. More of the same should do for Liverpool supporters this Christmas—though an improvement on recent results would not go amiss.
Statistics via WhoScored.com and Transfermarkt.co.uk.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
