The EPL title race could go to the wire, however the team of the season has absolutely already been determined.
Whether they go on to be topped champions or not, the team that deserves the honour needs to be Liverpool.
Written off at the begin, robbed of factors by refereeing errors and decimated by accidents, they then ‘misplaced’ their supervisor.
Neutrals bear in mind the Diaz ‘aim’, ‘Klopp’s youngsters’ and his choice to give up, however the particulars are usually misplaced in the common mayhem.
And so it’s price recounting some to get an concept of the scale of Liverpool’s difficulties this season.
Alright, Jurgen Klopp remains to be there however his January announcement that he was leaving at the finish of the season shocked the world, not to mention his gamers.
With a 3rd of the fixtures left to play, it may have induced a significant derailment.
But if something, it has in all probability labored the different method by galvanising each the squad and the followers into attempting to supply a becoming sendoff to their beloved boss.
Still, they deserve credit score for that. And, as we realized this week, Virgil van Dijk deserves particular credit score for giving the rousing speech that lifted the shell-shocked gamers.
According to Trent Alexander-Arnold, the big Dutchman performed a captain’s function in saying they need to give Klopp the farewell he deserves.
The skipper stated: “This is large information that’s going to rock the footballing world however we are able to’t let it distract us, now we have to make use of it as motivation.
“The supervisor has led us to a lot success, he’s enabled us to fulfil our desires, so we owe it to him to offer every thing we presumably can to offer him the greatest send-off.”
Those inspirational phrases duly delivered, Van Dijk is claimed to be “dreading” the departure of the German and remains to be to resume his contract.
You can wager he’s not the just one unsure about his future, with Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah in related contract conditions.
It additionally means that Klopp’s announcement, if taken the fallacious method, may have undermined the season.
It was a marketing campaign wherein Liverpool had already far exceeded expectations. A prime 4 place and a shot at the Europa League would have been the peak of sensible ambition.
The 2024-25 season would have been when Liverpool 2.0 was anticipated to be prepared for prime honours once more with Klopp nonetheless having two years extra on his contract.
But the summer season took a shocking flip with the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho after the membership deserted the pursuit of Jude Bellingham.
This finally led to 4 midfielders coming in as an alternative of one or two.
Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai got here early adopted by Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.
Endo was the actual shock however the Japanese has not solely turned out to be a wonderful No.6, he has allowed MacAllister to play in his most well-liked function of No.8 the place he’s now flourishing.
Liverpool’s first and most notorious encounter with VAR this season got here in September after they went down 2-1 to Spurs.
Not solely was a superbly good aim by Luis Diaz disallowed, they completed with 9 males.
Even then they virtually snatched it and solely an unlucky personal aim at the demise by Joel Matip gave all three factors to Spurs.
The Reds have been so outraged by officialdom that Klopp even semi-seriously urged replaying the recreation however that was by no means going to occur.
Against Arsenal in December, the Reds ought to have had a penalty when Martin Odegaard dealt with however none was given.
And lately in opposition to City, when, in the dying embers of the recreation, Jeremy Doku raked his studs down MacAllister’s rib cage however there was nonetheless no penalty.
The recreation ended 1-1 nevertheless it may have been 3 factors to Liverpool and none to City. Just as there would have been a double swing in factors over Arsenal.
If all these choices had gone Liverpool’s method – which they need to have – it could not be as thrilling a title race as Jurgen Klopp’s males would have had a cushty lead.
For the first two, errors have been admitted by referees’ chief Howard Webb and apologies given. For the Doku incident, there was an unconvincing excuse.
But VAR – or the lack of it – has not been the solely scourge the membership has needed to take care of.
Casualties got here in waves with as many as 11 of the first team squad unavailable.
Yet till the final minute of the FA Cup fifth spherical tie with Manchester United final month, Klopp had his males on target for 4 trophies.
If the FA Cup was misplaced, the Carabao Cup was received and the Europa League stays a critical goal as, of course, does the League.
As massive names went down one after one other, up stepped a clutch of callow-faced youngsters that even followers had barely heard of.
Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Jayden Danns and Bobby Clark, to call however 4, have been excellent and made you surprise if Klopp could possibly be tempted again to information their futures.
But the braveness of the supervisor appeared to unfold to the youngsters as they saved Liverpool’s season going.
And with the likes of Alisson, Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota anticipated again in coaching subsequent week, and Curtis Jones already again, it’s going to really feel like a brand new team .
Or not less than like one of Klopp’s late, impactful substitutions simply at the proper time.
With eight video games to go, something can nonetheless occur between the main three.
There’s solely a whisker between them and never a lot benefit of their remaining fixtures.
Arguably Liverpool’s hardest is on Sunday evening at Old Trafford.
United’s kind will exit of the window as they search one other comfort prize so as to add to the Cup victory to cease their most bitter rivals from drawing stage with them on 20 league titles apiece.
Given what Liverpool have already endured, to this observer, it belongs to them no matter the end result.
The views expressed are these of the author and don’t essentially replicate these of eNM.
