National club football around the world is enjoying an extended winter break this year like never before. For nearly six weeks, the soccer league will be halted to accommodate this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
For some teams like Arsenal or Napoli, this break might not be particularly welcome.
Momentum is very important in football, for teams that are performing well the last thing they want is to have to stop, who knows if their form will continue when they start again.
Conversely, teams that have suffered from a shaky start to the season may well see the break as a chance to regroup, give injured players a chance to return and may allow coaches to reconsider strategies and tactics.
Liverpool certainly falls into the latter category, as their domestic season hasn’t gone particularly well. Will they be able to benefit from the World Cup break? Read on to find out.
Liverpool’s season so far
As always, Liverpool started this season full of expectations. After finishing just one point behind champions Manchester City last year, fans were desperate for the team to surpass their rivals and replicate the success seen in the 2019/2020 season.
However, the current campaign has not gone as planned. An opening day 2-2 draw with Fulham acted as a harbinger of things to come, followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace and then a resounding 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s men responded in style, crushing Bournemouth with nine unanswered goals. Many fans saw this as a sign that the season was finally getting started, but they were soon back down to earth after a 0-0 draw against city rivals Everton.
In October Liverpool recorded another draw with Brighton and then a loss to league leaders Arsenal.
Again, the club came from behind, scoring an important victory against Manchester City and another against West Ham, before a humiliating defeat against Nottingham Forest and another loss against Leeds.
They ended the season with wins over Spurs and Southampton before going into half-time on 22 points in sixth place, 15 points off the top of the table.
Liverpool started the season as heavy favourites, so this poor start will have come as a surprise to those looking to bet on football in SA.
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Why have they been so poor?
Exactly why Liverpool have been so mediocre this season is a matter of opinion. There are no easy answers in soccer, countless factors can influence a team’s performance.
However, the Merseysiders have suffered numerous injuries; Key players like Arthur Melo, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz have spent long stretches on the sidelines. While the team is rich in depth, these injuries have certainly had an impact and can be used to explain the poor results, at least in part.
The fitness of the midfield has also been called into question, as has the form of defender Virgil van Dijk, who is usually reliable. The departure of striker Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich has also had a detrimental effect. Liverpool spent more than $70m on Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez to replace him, but he has yet to truly establish himself as the Senegalese international’s successor.
Will the World Cup break help Liverpool?
For teams struggling in their domestic league, mid-season breaks can often be welcomed and used as a time to regroup and start anew.
Liverpool are certainly no different and will have been desperate to get to half-time to get some much-needed respite from the pressure of such poor form.
The league would already seem to be out of sight, barring some unforeseen miracle. However, Liverpool are in real danger of finishing outside the top four, which would prevent them from qualifying for next year’s Champions League tournament.
Manager Jurgen Klopp will use the World Cup break to reassess and reassess his strategic and tactical plans. Injured players will have a chance to return to the team, which should hopefully inject a little life into a team that has so far been devoid of ideas.
The January transfer window will also give Liverpool the chance to bring in more players. One or two additions could be the key to turning around what has been a disastrous season so far.
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