Oh, the Fickle Finger of Fate!
We saw how cruel football can be last week with PSG on the wrong end of outrageous fortune. Now it is Liverpool’s turn to suffer – and their trauma was truly terminal.
The End of an Era?
Don’t get me wrong: PSG deserved to win an epic Champions League tie based on their performance over two legs. Arne Slot all but admitted as much. The group phase winners’ loss was compounded by a sense that topping the 38-team table – and beating Bayern and Real Madrid – had counted for nothing in the end. And there was something else in the eyes and body language of the inconsolable Reds that revealed this was more than just a first-ever shoot-out defeat in this tournament. It might "mean more".
The Trio of Out-of-Contract Players
Let’s start with the trio of out-of-contract players. Mo Salah was in tears as a second chance to lift Old Big Ears and a shot at the Ballon d’Or slipped by. Trent Alexander-Arnold was upset to have been taken off knowing he’d miss the Carabao Cup final. A last for his boyhood club? And perhaps most telling of all, when asked if he’d be staying at the club, Virgil van Dijk said: "I have no idea".
The State of the Squad
Then there was Andy Robertson saying: "There are some tired legs out there". A statement of the obvious but one with the added poignancy of it being on the 31st birthday of a great servant already considered to be past his best. It may be reading too much into it to suggest a wholesale exit of Jurgen Klopp era stalwarts, but Liverpool did look more than just knackered.
The League Cup: A Last Resort?
It may "only" be the Carabao, and "only" Newcastle, but now they are ruing the "if onlys". If only Salah had been sharper with the two early chances. If only Alisson and Ibrahima Konate had not got their wires crossed. The cloud must be lifted by Sunday if Kopites are to continue to call Wembley "Anfield South". It won’t be easy after such a long and dramatic night.
Conclusion
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the current state of Liverpool’s squad?
The squad is struggling with injuries and a lack of depth, particularly in defense. - Will Jurgen Klopp era stalwarts be leaving the club?
It is possible, but not certain. The club has not made any official announcements. - Can Liverpool win the League Cup?
Yes, they have a good chance, but it will depend on their form and the opposition. - Will Liverpool dominate the Premier League again next season?
It is unlikely, as the team is aging and the league is becoming more competitive.