Liverpool must rid themselves of past demons in order to succeed

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Just one week ago, Jurgen Klopp and his squad were on top of the footballing world after toppling a Manchester City side that were on their way to being labeled “Invincibles 2.0,” to only lose one week later to rock bottom Swansea. However, to anyone associated with Liverpool Football Club, this is all too familiar.

The tale has remained the same over the previous campaigns: Liverpool beat the big clubs but constantly lose momentum and fixtures against those which should be an easy three points. The Swansea game was a perfect representation of who Liverpool FC are and who they have been in the recent past, Jekyll and Hyde.

So, the question that needs answering is, “why?” Several people can point fingers at the sale of Coutinho and the lack of creativity that his departure created. However, that simply is not the case. Liverpool were without Coutinho just one week ago when they took down Man City and this problem has been ongoing, even when the Brazilian was at the club. The real issue is probably a result of not being up for the contest. This excuse should not satisfy Liverpool supporters whatsoever but it is an issue that needs to be addressed if Liverpool ever wants to challenge for the title (EX. Crystal Palace 2013/2014).

The match against Swansea may just be a hangover effect from what happened in the week prior but just take a glance at the previous two seasons and observe the points that have been dropped and the teams that they were dropped against. This has no relevancy to the dealings done in the transfer market because Liverpool squad’s in the past seasons should have done better against teams on the ladder-half of the table (except goalkeeper but that is a completely different dilemma). The XI that lined up on Monday were simply the best team sheet that Klopp could have put out and none of them played to the potential that they possess.

Now the blame does not belong solely to the players, Klopp and the backroom staff must accept some of the blame.

A common relationship is associated with the lower sides that Liverpool constantly keep dropping points too, their style of play, something Klopp has yet to provide a permanent fix to.  Swansea was no outlier and Swan’s manager Carlos Carvahal said it best in his post-match interview.

“I made an analogy with my players about this game. I said to them that Liverpool is a really top team, and they are really, really very strong, but they are Formula One. If you put Formula One into London at four o’clock, the Formula One will not run very fast, absolutely sure. And it is exactly what we must do to play against Liverpool: make them play the way they don’t like,” he revealed.

He is right in his evaluation. Liverpool struggle against the teams that sit back in a defensive shape and it leaves the Reds in a state of confusion and frustration.

Klopp must step in and put together a game plan which derails any opposition’s idea to sit back and allow the play to come to them.

If Liverpool and Klopp cannot rid themselves of this reoccurring circumstance than that will continue the halt of progression that the supporters want them to make. Previous teams that have won the league do not come across this certain issue and at the moment, it is one of the main reasons that his holding Liverpool back.