Jermaine Jenas has criticised Liverpool for supposedly failing to take advantage of a season in which the team has been able to focus entirely on the Premier League.
The Reds face a tough finish as they look to fight off competition from Arsenal for a place in the top four and, in turn, next season’s Champions League.
“I think it’s been a poor season. He will never have an easier season at Liverpool in terms of the number of games, no European football to contend with,” Jenas said on BT Sport.
“The fact that they’re stumbling to that position (top four), after the start they had to the season, you remember they went to Stamford Bridge and wiped the floor with them.”
“In that top six Liverpool are top in terms of points accumulated against the top six.”
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It is worth noting that Liverpool entered the season with a squad with nowhere near the same strength in depth to that of their rivals. Jurgen Klopp’s side also had recurring injury problems to contend with which proved to be the cause of key players remaining sidelined for lengthy periods of time at key stages.
Failing to qualify for the Champions League would be admittedly disappointing given how impressively the team started the season. That said, there have been plenty of encouraging signs to give fans good reason to believe this club is only moving in one direction.
Early signs of Liverpool competing for the title eventually faltered but posed as recognition of how a successful summer transfer window could see the team mount a serious challenge at the top of the table next season.
Top four remains within reach. Time to prove Jenas wrong.