Just as Liverpool fans were hoping that this season could not sink any lower, they have been hit with their latest mockery punch. Just six minutes earlier, Roberto Firmino had a gilt-edged header saved by Leeds United goalkeeper Ilan Meslier. And that was punished when Crescencio Somerville stunned Anfield by scoring the Whites’ second goal in the 89th minute to give them a 2-1 win over Jurgen Klopp’s side. What followed was a throng of disappointed, weary fans heading for the exit gates despite the time left to play the game. The Reds fell to back-to-back Premier League defeats against opponents who hadn’t won a top-flight game in more than two months. Defeat at Leeds leaves Liverpool almost certainly out of the title race and, more importantly, already facing a challenge to finish in the top four. Liverpool disappointed after defeat by Leeds. Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images It would be a serious concern if the Reds fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League. If Liverpool fail to do so, there will be concern that the profound progress made in recent years could quickly unravel. As Kopites ponders the reasons behind Liverpool’s struggles, one theory is that owners Fenway Sports Group have failed to adequately support Klopp in the transfer market. FSG bought the Reds from the much talked-about Tom Hicks and George Gillette, who almost took the club into administration, in 2010. Since then, they have overseen Liverpool’s return to Europe’s elite, having won the Champions League and reached two more finals. as well as claiming a first championship after 30 years. They also made monumental upgrades to Anfield, as well as investing £50m in the AXA Training Centre. However, there are frustrations among sections of the fans that not enough has been invested in the squad and Klopp has not been given the tools to keep Liverpool in the top flight. Now, it has culminated in a malaise. After the Reds won the Champions League in 2019, not a single first-team player was signed for a fee that summer. And while Liverpool splashed out on Darwin Nunez for an initial fee of £64m during the 2022-23 summer transfer window, much of that was offset by the sales of Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino and Neco Williams.
What was said
Klopp was asked at the end of August if he felt he was sufficiently supported by FSG in the transfer window. The Liverpool boss admitted he understood the owners’ model – but would be open to taking more risks in the future. Klopp said: “What does ‘support’ mean? What I don’t like is if I say now that I’m not sure, then you make a big deal out of it. It was always like this. Was it always easy? No. Do we discuss such things in public? No, why start now? “Let me put it this way – from time to time, I would be prepared to take a bit more risk, but I don’t decide to and that’s fine. I’m like that – we try everything until someone tells us we can’t do it and then I don’t think twice about it. “Let’s go from there, let’s make something special out of this team, a great team. We’ve had some problems but we’ll really try to get everything out of this season.” Of course, Liverpool have taken risks in the past under Klopp in the transfer window they have reaped. Many questioned whether Diogo Jota was worth £40m. Twenty-four goals later, no one is now arguing that too much was paid for the Portuguese. Andy Robertson’s career has been unorthodox, having started in Scotland’s fourth division. On paper, he should be nowhere near one of the best left-backs in the world – but he has been under Klopp’s tutelage since signing for £10m from relegated Hull City in 2018. If the Reds are to topple the table after the World Cup and break into the top four, many agree they will need to strengthen when the January transfer window opens. And that will mean that FSG will give Klopp sufficient funds and allow him to take the calculated bets that can bring improvement.
