The Highs and Lows for Liverpool in 2015
With the Premier League taking an unpredictable bent over the course of 2015, Liverpool have experienced a number of highs and lows throughout this 12 months.
When the club's owners, John W. Henry and Tom Werner, sit back at their Boston base and reflect on the trials and tribulations of the past year, and Jordan Henderson and his team-mates do the same at Melwood, there is a lot to be learned from what unfolded.
Of course, the football world never sleeps, and a day after seeing in the new year, Henderson will be leading his side out against West Ham United, but this proves a useful juncture to discuss the Reds' achievements.
Here are the highs and lows of 2015 for Liverpool, kicking off with an oft-overlooked period of dominance under former manager Brendan Rodgers.
High: 10 Games Unbeaten in the League, January to March
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Ending 2014 with a convincing 4-1 win at home to Swansea City, Liverpool picked up 2015 where they left off and, remarkably, continued their unbeaten Premier League streak for another 10 games.
This took in victories over Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Manchester City, with Henderson and Philippe Coutinho providing the entertainment as the Reds edged out the Citizens in a frenetic encounter at Anfield.
Much of Liverpool's success in this period came through the use of Rodgers' innovative 3-4-2-1 formation, with a sensational performance from Raheem Sterling as No. 9 in the final game in January—a 2-0 win at home to West Ham United—proving the merits of this system with a pacy, dynamic forward at its tip.
This game also saw the return of Daniel Sturridge, who scored just 12 minutes after replacing Lazar Markovic in the second half.
An optimistic support was enthralled by the return of an attack-heavy brand of football, with fond memories of 2013/14 rekindled.
Low: Europa League Disappointment
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After securing Champions League qualification with a second-placed finish in 2013/14, Liverpool struggled to make an impression in Europe's top-tier tournament, subsequently dropping down to the Europa League after finishing third in their group, behind FC Basel and Real Madrid.
This brought a two-legged tie with Turkish giants Besiktas, prompting a bitter reunion with former Chelsea striker and Steven Gerrard scourge, Demba Ba.
A late Mario Balotelli penalty secured a 1-0 win in the first leg at Anfield, but a trip to Istanbul at the end of February brought a disappointing conclusion.
Tolgay Arslan levelled the tie on 72 minutes, with Besiktas' well-organised defence sealing an excruciating penalty shootout.
The onus fell of the Reds' fifth penalty taker, Dejan Lovren, who hammered his effort over the bar.
At the first time of asking, Rodgers' Liverpool were kicked out of both the Champions League and the Europa League, underlining their inexperience under the Ulsterman.
Low: Steven Gerrard's Farewell
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Announcing his decision to leave Liverpool at the beginning of 2015, Gerrard kicked off a miserable five months that saw the long-serving captain play out an extended swansong.
Champions League winner, key midfielder and one of the club's greatest players, Gerrard's impending departure brought a sense of dread among Liverpool supporters—though his waning influence worked to undermine this.
What followed was five months of drab performances and tactical indecision, as Rodgers struggled to contend with the expectations of a support yearning for another title challenge.
Gerrard's final home game, against Crystal Palace, concluded with a lap of honour for the Liverpool-born star, and Anfield soaked in his presence.
But the bitter taste left by his rapid decline was too strong to ignore.
Low: Nine Goals Shipped in Two Games
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With Liverpool six points off fourth place heading into that clash with Palace, Gerrard's last two games as a Reds player were of utmost importance—wins over Palace and Stoke City were imperative if Rodgers' side were to secure back-to-back top-four finishes.
Fourth-placed Manchester City were hitting strong form, so facing up to two of the Premier League's toughest outfits was a daunting proposition.
Few supporters expected the miserable performances that were to follow, however.
A Yannick Bolasie-inspired Palace cut through Liverpool in Gerrard's Anfield bow, securing a 3-1 victory that propelled Alan Pardew's side closer to the top half of table, while the Reds' trip to Stoke saw them fall to a 6-1 defeat, with Sterling restricted to the bench after signalling his intention to leave the club.
Liverpool finished the campaign in sixth, with these defeats leaving an indelible mark on Rodgers' record.
High: Philippe Coutinho's Form
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One of few enduring positives throughout 2015, however, has been the rising form of Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian, who made an instant impact after arriving from Inter Milan in January 2013, was forced to contend with heightened expectations following the departure of Luis Suarez and injury to Daniel Sturridge.
But Coutinho responded emphatically, reaching a new plateau in 2015, tailoring his game to add match-winning quality in the final third, including spectacular strikes against City, Southampton and Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup.
Liverpool rewarded the midfielder with a new long-term contract in February, and Coutinho told the club's official website: "I'm really happy. It's a dream come true playing for this great club and being part of this squad."
The continued loyalty and top-level form of Coutinho has provided supporters with a real positive in 2015.
High: Roberto Firmino Euphoria
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Though his impact so far has been slight, the £29 million signing of Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim sparked the imaginations of a Liverpool support losing faith in the club's transfer-market clout.
This, as This is Anfield's Sean Duffy explained in July, was spurred by many previous failures to secure big-name targets:
"On the news of Liverpool’s Firmino interest, the names Willian, [Diego] Costa, [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan and [Mohamed] Salah were etched across the minds of most supporters. But now the 23-year-old is a Red, where does this leave the prevailing narrative?
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Firmino offers that something that Liverpool haven’t had for a while.
In securing a star coveted by other elite clubs, the club has bucked an ugly trend that it has developed over recent years.
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Securing Firmino's signing from under the noses of rivals Manchester United saw Liverpool make a statement, and the Brazilian's arrival renewed hopes within supporters that the Reds could compete in the transfer market.
Low: Brendan Rodgers' Demise
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Despite Henry and Werner sanctioning a £77 million spend in the summer transfer market, including the arrivals of Firmino, Christian Benteke, Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner and Danny Ings, Rodgers' position in the eyes of Liverpool supporters had become untenable following the defeat to Stoke in May.
The owners persevered with the man who had brought their club so close to success in 2013/14, but as results continued to deteriorate in 2015, Rodgers' reign came to an inevitable close.
"Although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for success on the pitch," a club statement, released shortly after Liverpool's 1-1 draw away to Everton in October, read.
"Ambition and winning are at the heart of what we want to bring to Liverpool and we believe this change gives us the best opportunity to deliver it."
Henry and Werner's ambition had outgrown Rodgers, and though it proved a disappointing eventuality, the former Swansea manager's departure was necessary.
High: Jurgen Klopp's Arrival
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Four days after Rodgers' departure, and after heavy speculation, Jurgen Klopp was named as Liverpool's new manager.
"In Jurgen Klopp we have appointed a world-class manager with a proven track record of winning and someone who has the personality and charisma to reignite this football club and take the team forward," Werner told the club's official website on the German's arrival.
"When an opportunity presents itself to acquire one of the most sought-after leaders in the game, it is something you have to pursue decisively and we are delighted he has accepted our invitation."
Much like their acquisition of Firmino, appointing Klopp was another statement of intent from Werner and Henry.
A manager of Klopp's calibre—as a Bundesliga winner and Champions League finalist with Borussia Dortmund—represented a major step up from the relatively unproven Rodgers, and his arrival has buoyed the Liverpool support immeasurably.
High: Big Wins Under Klopp
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Overall, Klopp's first three months in charge at Liverpool have been relatively muted in terms of results, but with the German's demanding brand of attacking football taking time to implement, a series of big wins have suggested there is more to come in the long term.
Firstly, a 3-1 win away to Chelsea at the end of October saw a Firmino-led attack run rampant, with the Reds inflicting the same level of misery to City in November, with Coutinho, Firmino and Martin Skrtel all scoring in a 4-1 victory.
The best was yet to come, with Liverpool's finest performance under Klopp to date coming in their 6-1 win away to Southampton in the League Cup—a sensational collective display.
When Liverpool have clicked under Klopp, they have produced some stunning performances, hinting at a truly positive future.
High: A Bright Future
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Heading into 2016 with realistic prospects of a top-four finish in the Premier League, as well as the opportunity to secure silverware in the FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League, things are looking up for Liverpool.
Klopp's guidance looks set to bring the club into a more successful era, with his passionate management sparking a previously muted Anfield into life.
A major high point for Liverpool at the end of 2015 is a renewed optimism, and much of that is due to Klopp's influence.
