Steve Nicol has rather surprisingly suggested that Liverpool missing out on European football altogether this season could benefit Jurgen Klopp’s side.
After back-to-back defeats to Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, the FA Cup holders are ninth in the table and eight points behind Newcastle, bottom of the Champions League.
Finishing in the Europa League or Conference League places would be a huge disappointment for the club that finished as runners-up in Europe’s main competition last year and the ex-Red Nicol has questioned whether missing out on qualification for all three European competitions would be a bad idea. Thing for the whole of Anfield.
“I was sitting there thinking, you know what? It didn’t hurt Chelsea not to be in Europe the year Conte came,” Nicol told ESPN (via Liverpool Echo). “He didn’t do Chelsea any harm at all. He was thinking that it would hurt Liverpool so much, for that year, not to be in Europe?
READ MORE: Graeme Souness highlights Jurgen Klopp’s main concern as Liverpool ‘harassed’ by Leeds
Liverpool aim to sign Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham in the summer and missing out on Champions League qualification would not reduce Klopp’s chances of securing the England international’s services, according to Nicol.
The former Kop favorite spoke about Chelsea and how they managed to lure Antonio Conte to Stamford Bridge in 2016 shortly after finishing 10th in the Premier League.
“I don’t believe it for a second because when Chelsea didn’t enter Europe they managed to get hold of Antonio Conte, who was one of the most sought-after managers,” he added. “I’m just thinking that if you’re not going to win the Champions League, I absolutely detest that nonsense from the conference and then I wonder if I really want to be in the Europa League, Thursday and Sunday? If you’re out for a season, not much is going to change.”
Nicol explained that the attitude and work-rate of Klopp’s players cannot be questioned, but he believes that unfortunately a lot has gone against the Merseysiders this season.
He also spoke about the defense that allowed Leeds to stun Anfield last night, meaning Liverpool have now lost four of their first 12 Premier League games.
He added: “Absolutely everything is going wrong. You can start with the form, basically, almost everyone is out of form. The only thing you can’t try is desire, but unfortunately that desire is turning into missing the ball. Despair. They try so hard that there is no control. The passes are too long or too short… I mean even the chances, they had a lot of chances, Nunez had a couple of chances. Meslier also made a couple of great saves, Salah getting the goal from him.
“Every little thing is going wrong, and no matter what it is, right now they’re doing it wrong. I could go over every single thing you do on a football field; their starting positions, decision making. I mean Liverpool keep doing everything wrong, particularly at the wrong time.
“Van Dijk for the last goal, he doesn’t move his feet at all. Summerville receives it and moves in two different ways, the ball moves and then he pushes it with his foot towards the goal.
“During all that little period, which I understand is a short time, Van Dijk does not move his feet or his body. He just stands there and watches. Not just Van Dijk, but a couple of years ago the entire defense of four would have had Leeds camped out in their own half. Two years ago Liverpool defended as a unit. Today, Liverpool doesn’t defend if it’s up, mid or back”.
“I heard Klopp talk the other day about it being different after the World Cup, I would love to know what is going to change because it doesn’t look like the staff is going to change much. But I tell them that there are many things that have to change.”
Graeme Souness has explained that Liverpool’s slow start to the season is a result of the midfield being “hounded” by opponents and it’s hard to disagree with his comments.
We seem to be weak across the park at the moment and many of our players are struggling to perform at the level we know they are capable of.
Fabinho is one of the players who has been criticized for his performance against Jesse Marsch’s side, but it is the group as a whole that is struggling.
Hopefully we can put in four good performances before our season is interrupted by the World Cup in Qatar next month.
Ep63 of The Empire of the Kop podcast: Klopp’s ridiculous accusations of xenophobia, Núñez shining… and more!
