Liverpool have had a dismal campaign in the Premier League so far, and the Reds find themselves seventh in the league table.
Participation in the UEFA Champions League next season is in serious jeopardy for Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp’s men will have to perform a mini-miracle in the remaining games to secure a top-four finish.
A side that was close to winning the quadruple last season has been reduced to a shadow of their former selves. And while some of the players have to shoulder the blame, most of their decline is down to the lack of investment from the club’s owners.
While Fenway Sports Group have done well to turn Liverpool into a self-sustaining club, their lack of investment has handicapped the Reds when it comes to competing with their rivals in the Premier League.
Liverpool can no longer compete with clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea, especially with the way they have spent in recent windows. Meanwhile, the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have better squads and more resources at their disposal as well. And amid takeover rumours, John Henry has recently confirmed that FSG are here to stay.
“Are we selling LFC? No,” Henry told. “Are we talking with investors about LFC? Yes. Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won’t be a sale.”
With FSG going nowhere, Liverpool fans must make peace with the idea of petering their expectations. But here are three things the US owners must do in the coming months to revive the club and guide them back to the top of English football.
Replace Michael Edwards adequately
Liverpool are still reeling from the loss of their charismatic sporting director. Edwards has played a massive role in building a title-winning squad at Liverpool. But he is gone now, and Liverpool will have to bring in a quality alternative.
They have been linked with a number of candidates in recent months. And it remains to be seen whether FSG can bring in someone who will oversee Liverpool’s rebuild and bring in talented young players for reasonable fees over the coming seasons.
The Reds appointed Julian Ward as the successor to Edwards. But he will be on his way out of the club at the end of the season as well.
While Jurgen Klopp remains a world-class coach, the German cannot be left to oversee the transfers and scout players as well. The 55-year-old will certainly need more help. And a proper replacement for Edwards could make a huge difference for Liverpool.
Plug the major gaps in the squad
Liverpool’s midfield performances have been abysmal this season. And it is a result of sticking with the same group of players for a long time.
The likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho are clearly past their peak, and they will need to be replaced now. Liverpool should have replaced them one at a time in the past windows. But they now have the herculean challenge of replacing them all at once.
It is no secret that Fenway Sports Group will have to spend huge sums of money to replace all three players. And it remains to be seen whether the Reds can bring in some of their preferred targets like Jude Bellingham and Matheus Nunes.
Meanwhile, players like Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be free agents at the end of the season. So Liverpool find themselves in a precarious situation as far as their midfield is concerned.
Klopp has shown that he is exceptional when it comes to nurturing young players and establishing them as first-team stars. However, the German tactician cannot be expected to perform a miracle and rebuild the side without significant investment.
FSG have confirmed that they will continue at Liverpool and have no intention of selling the club just yet. They will need to step up and prove their worth now.
Back the manager
It goes without saying that Liverpool have one of the best managers in world football in charge. Despite their performances this season, Jurgen Klopp remains a world-class manager. And he is the right man to rebuild the side and get the Reds firing once again.
Regardless of the results until the end of the season, FSG must stick with Jurgen Klopp and back him with funds and support. Even if the Reds miss out on Champions League qualification and start the next season poorly, the owners must keep faith in the German and let him rebuild the squad at his own pace.
Liverpool are already lagging behind their Premier League rivals in terms of resources. So one summer transfer window will certainly not be enough to get them back into the thick of things once again. Liverpool will probably need a number of windows to build a squad capable of challenging for the Champions League and the Premier League titles once again.
