Liverpool Can Put 2021/22 Season Heartbreak Firmly Behind Them

After coming so close to what would have been a historic quadruple in the 2021/22 campaign it was always going to be a big ask for Liverpool to go again and reach those standards last season.Having endured a stuttering start, the 2022/23 season proved to be one to forget but, after looking like their old selves towards the back end of that campaign, there’s plenty of hope about what can be achieved this term.

Stuttering Start A Possible Symptom Of Heartbreaking Conclusion

While the Liverpool camp was always keen to play down the talk of the quadruple in the 2021/22 season, the Reds had the tremendous feat within touching distance. Liverpool is priced at odds of 8/1 in the outright online betting markets to win the Premier League this season, as of 21st July.

The club suffered final-day heartbreak in the league as Manchester City claimed the title with a comeback win over Aston Villa. Naturally, the Reds did all they could do by overcoming Wolverhampton Wanderers but Jürgen Klopp’s side could do nothing about the result at the Etihad Stadium as Pep Guardiola’s side were crowned champions.

After the pain of so narrowly missing out on what would have been a second Premier League title in the club’s history, Liverpool then turned their attention to Europe for a Champions League showdown with Real Madrid in Paris. The Reds dominated possession, had 24 shots at goal and nine on target but could not find a way past the inspired Real keeper Thibaut Courtois. In the end, Real was the one to triumph at the Stade de France with a second-half goal securing a 1-0 win for Los Blancos. It was a tough result to take for all concerned with Liverpool and bouncing back quickly was always going to be a big ask for Klopp’s squad last season.

Reds Took Time To Get Over Hangover

As was predicted in some quarters, it was to take Liverpool time to get over the disappointment of a quadruple slipping through their fingers as they claimed only the FA Cup and League Cup. Draws with Fulham and Crystal Palace led to a stuttering start before a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford. With Arsenal making a blistering start to the campaign, it already seemed Liverpool were out of the running for the title.

Picking up just two Premier League wins in the first seven games of the campaign, the Reds were quickly realising they would have a real battle on their hands to finish in the top four, never mind challenge for the trophy. In the end, the Reds would fall short in their hopes of returning to the Champions League but there were some promising signs towards the end of the campaign.

A 4-1 defeat at eventual champions Manchester City on 1st April was to prove Liverpool’s last loss of the 2022/23 Premier League season. Going their final 11 games unbeaten, with seven wins and four draws, Liverpool was one of the form sides over the last couple of months of the campaign. The Reds looked like their former selves once again and that should give Klopp and his players hope about what can be achieved this season.

A Foundation To Build On

That unbeaten spell towards the end of last season looks to be a sign the Reds have finally put their 2021/22 end-of-season woes behind them. The impressive run of form could be the foundation of even better things to come, as Liverpool hopes to find themselves back in a real title race with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal next season.

Considering the mighty success Klopp has enjoyed since joining Liverpool, it was always likely there would be seasons where the side struggled to reach the high standards expected. The physical nature of Klopp’s football takes its toll but it looks like new transfers over the summer will freshen up the squad. Meanwhile, the signings from last summer will have had a full pre-season under their belts and will be looking to kick on in the new campaign.

The 2021/22 season will always be remembered for what might have been but it looks like the Reds have turned the corner and hopefully, bright times await in this campaign

Written by Alan Spencer