You could be forgiven for thinking otherwise after the despair of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Aston Villa, but this season still has a long way to go.
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While the seven point gap on fourth place Manchester City might look hopeless, it’s not a deficit that is unachievable. Indeed, if we win our back-to-back games against West Bromwich Albion and Hull City over the next week, and City lose to a resurgent Villa, there will be just one point separating us.
So as we enter the calm before the storm so to speak, with a frantic finale to our domestic campaign and a no doubt tearful goodbye to club captain Steven Gerrard still to come, we look back at ten of the biggest talking points so far this season.
Here are ten things we’ve learned from our campaign…
10) Our academy is full of wonderful potential
One of the biggest plus points this season has been the wealth of young talent we’ve seen rising to the top. Raheem Sterling certainly appears to have started something of a trend. Jordon Ibe has come into the first-team side and has been excellent, while the likes of Sheyi Ojo, Jerome Sinclair and Joao Carlos Teixeira have all impressed during loan spells at Championship clubs. Let’s hope they can push on and make the breakthrough next season.
9) Luis Suarez is simply irreplaceable
We all feared the worst when he went. How do you replace a striker who’s just scored 31 Premier League goals in a season? Daniel Sturridge’s constant injury problems have also dealt our hopes of finding an adequate replacement a major blow. The loss of the ‘SAS’ has intensified the pressure on Sterling – who has often been playing out of position – to produce results far beyond what we should realistically be expecting from him.
8) Emre Can could be the next big thing
The young German has undoubtedly been the find of the season. It’s hard to believe that he spent the first couple of months of the season sitting on the bench, if that, as he struggled to justify his selection in midfield. His being pressed into service as an emergency defender unleashed a potential that even the most ardent of Emre Can fans must have found surprising. Fast forward six months and it’s now hard to picture a Liverpool team without him.
7) Ongoing contract problems have been a major issue
Whether it’s Raheem Sterling or Jordan Henderson (via the Daily Express), constant speculation over the future of a key player is not productive to Liverpool performing at the best possible level. Sterling’s performances have certainly undergone something of a downturn since the discussions reached their peak, while his every move has been under scrutiny from the national press. This isn’t fair on a young player whose head must be spinning.
6) Out of favour players can come back
Simon Mignolet’s revival has been a big boost to Brendan Rodgers, who must have been tearing his hair out after dropping the Belgian in December, only to see his replacement – Brad Jones – almost immediately ruled out through injury. Whatever the reason for Mignolet’s revival, he’s now very much back to being our undisputed first choice. His 12 clean sheets this year have been a big bonus and something that have greatly aided our renaissance.
5) The Champions League is too much right now
A very fresh looking Liverpool squad were always going to struggle to adjust upon their long-awaited return to Champions League football. Real Madrid are a step above any of the English teams, while bogey-team Basel are more than capable of causing problems. The Europa League is a competition we could have gone further in but that brings its only problems – most notably the Thursday night games. Hopefully the experience will be a boost.
4) Big-money signings aren’t always the answer
Our biggest successes in last summer’s transfer window came through our cheaper deals – most notably Emre Can and Alberto Moreno. The likes of Mario Balotelli, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren were always going to struggle to live up to their price-tags and the level of expectation that came with them. It’s a lesson that must be learned as we approach another decisive transfer window, looking to avoid being held for ransom for a second successive year.
3) Brendan Rodgers is not a miracle worker
Last season he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. This season, he’s worse than Roy Hodgson. The truth is somewhere in between. Everything was in his favour last season – the Sterling, Sturridge, Coutinho, Suarez front four was impossible to live with. Take two of those players away and you’re left with a huge uphill task. Everything that went right last season has gone wrong this season, much of it out of his control. He deserves more time.
2) Philippe Coutinho is our new main man
The Brazilian has been simply superb this year, emphasises by his recent PFA nomination. The goals and assists that we were all saying he needed to add to his game are starting to come. The spectacular strikes against Southampton and Manchester City were a joy to behold, while he netted crucial goals throughout our FA Cup run. It’s worth remembering that this guy is still 22; think how good he could become in a couple of years with a team built around him.
1) It’s the right time for Steven Gerrard to go
He’s been a captain. He’s been an inspiration. He’s been a legend. He’s been the best player we’ve ever produced. But the time is right for both Gerrard and Liverpool to go their separate ways. He just can’t run a game the way he once did – that much was clear against Aston Villa last weekend. He’s been a wonderful servant and has earned all the recognition that comes with it, but it’s time from him to step aside and open the door to a potential successor. Replacing him certainly won’t be easy.
