A new season brings an opportunity for Liverpool to shake off the disappointment of their meek title defence. The 2020-21 campaign was a strange one for so many reasons, not least because of the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, but also because Jürgen Klopp’s side struggled for consistency throughout the Premier League season — a far cry from the winning machine which strolled to their first title for 30 years the season before.
The aim this year will be to regain that Premier League crown, and while Liverpool are one of the favourites in the Premier League winner odds, it certainly won’t be easy. The return of crowds to Anfield will undoubtedly help the team recover their dominant reputation, but there are still a lot of question marks surrounding this Liverpool side. Let’s look at three factors which may prevent the Reds from lifting that Premier League trophy.
Lack of transfer activity
Many Liverpool fans were hoping that the purse strings would be loosened this summer to try and bolster the squad, but the club’s hierarchy have always favoured shrewd purchases that make financial sense. Indeed, the only summer signing to have been made so far is young French defender Ibrahima Konaté, who joined from RB Leipzig to provide more depth to the defensive line.
Apart from that, Liverpool look unlikely to add any new players before the start of the season. For a squad that was stretched to the limits last season, that is a bold move from the powers that be. It’s understandable that the club is not flush with cash at the moment due to the pandemic, but the consequence of Liverpool’s lack of investment could be that they find it difficult to challenge for the title.
Recurring injuries
With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez returning to action in pre-season, Liverpool supporters were able to breathe a sigh of relief. The pair were greatly missed at the heart of defence last season, and it will be important to manage their game time carefully over the first few weeks of the new campaign, to avoid any recurrence of the injuries which kept them out for so long.
There is a worrying trend at Liverpool of players never quite fully re-discovering their form after injuries. The likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keïta and Joël Matip have spent lengthy periods of time on the treatment table over the last few seasons, and that has affected the squad. When you combine this with the club’s reluctance to bring in new signings, there is a real possibility that Liverpool could suffer another injury crisis this season.
Strength of other teams
Perhaps the most pertinent factor which will harm Liverpool’s chances in the English Premier League betting tips is the fact that a number of the top Premier League clubs look stronger than ever. Manchester City are riding the crest of a wave after winning their third title in four years last season. Manchester United have added Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane to their ranks in a bid to improve on their second-place finish last term. And Chelsea, full of hope after winning the Champions League last June, will be a tough nut to crack under Thomas Tuchel.
It’s up to Klopp and his coaching staff to find a way to compete with these teams throughout the campaign. Liverpool are unlikely to ever again experience the kind of dominance they enjoyed in the 2019-20 season, so Klopp’s tactics in the biggest matches will play a huge role. Last season, Liverpool had a fairly impressive record against the top sides, and that will need to continue if they want to regain that Premier League crown.