The last 3-4 seasons have always shown cracks where teams figured out how to beat Saltypool, as taking the game to them always flummoxed them as they assumed everyone would camp out in their own half and hope not to get obliterated, and then their system fell apart as it meant TAA would have to defend and their midfield three would have to create The irony is that, by selling Mane, they actively make it easier for teams to do that as now there isn't the threat of having them double up on both flanks with pace, which then exposes their midfield (which is also starting to age) can't take a game to opponents, while also exposing that van Dijk's been ridiculously overhyped
Based on a cursory glance at their "season compass" , the Poool are currently in the dogfight for a PL top 4 slot.
Varpool`s squad is full of aging asthmatics, and years of Klopp`s high intensity pressing game just might be catching up with them. Their best player has lost his hunger after signing a mega contract and their record signing is on a similar level to Andy Carroll, their recruitment has gone down the drain and they have a RB who can not defend etc. It also appears the officials are refereeing their games properly for once, they are not being dragged to results by key moments of favourable officiating, which has a negative impact on points accrued, how long that lasts is anybody`s guess.
And their defence relies on van Dijk playing like a superhero every week. When he doesn’t, it’s a car crash.
Liverpool overachieved for a few years. To go toe to toe with City was unbelievable. They’re run properly like normal clubs so can’t just keep throwing money at signings with no consequences if they flop like Man City, Chelsea and Man Utd do. Klopp also has a bizarre record when it comes to being in charge of clubs for 7 years, it all starts to fall apart and badly.
Ridiculous numbers Averaging 35 goals a season for 20 seasons. People are rightly praising Haaland for his recent form but I’ll be amazed if he gets anywhere near Ronaldo and Messi numbers throughout his career
331 goals in his golden six-season spell (aged 25 to 30 from 10/11 to 15/16). Absolutely mental. Take away Messi's six Barcelona-B goals and Ronaldo is now four ahead of Messi. Messi's golden best six-season spell was 332 goals (aged 22 to 27, 09/10 to 14/15). Those two.
Brighton’s midfielder, Enock Mwepu, has had to retire at just 24. Diagnosed with a rare heart condition.
The Poool have not "overachieved" . They have been operating at peak performance, but unfortunately they have very fine operating margins when it comes to squad injuries/form etc (does not take much to get a significant drop for a season) , And as you stated they cannot buy their way out such drops like the Sugga Daddy FCs attempt to.
Financially they overachieved imo. To compete against the likes of City, Utd and Chelsea whilst running a club properly is impressive.
A quick peek at their wage bill says they haven't overachieved Back in 2018 the following players were earning over £100k p/w: Salah, Mane, van Dijk, Henderson, Firmino, Oxlade Chamberlain, Milner, Lallana, Matip, Lovren Fast forward four years, the following players were earning over £100k p/w: Alisson, Fabinho, Diaz, Alexander Arnold, Robertson, Henderson, Jota, Matip, Keita, Oxlade Chamberlain, Milner ...and the following players were earning £200k p/w: Salah, Mane, van Dijk, Thiago
There is a general (rank) correlation in the PL between club season placing and "financial power" . However, Chelsky since 2017 have been under-performing in the PL, and Man Utd have been in the empire declining phase for the most part of a decade (which has made the Poool PL campaigns somewhat easier) . Consistency on the pitch means that the Poool have not had performance issues that player/manager/financial churn attempts to fix.
I suppose their insane success rate with transfers was going to end at some point, for about 5-6 years it felt like every signing they made turned to gold but the last 2 or so it's not been the case. Alisson, Robertson, van Dijk, Matip, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Jota, Mane, Firmino, Salah - amazing business. Konate (decent to be fair but not a patch on prime VVD/ Matip), Davies (did he even play?), Thiago (great player but so injury prone), Diaz (goes all Casper in big games), Minamino - much less impressive to say the least. Jury's out on Melo and Nunez too. Melo's a weird loan signing considering he's struggled to adapt to football in Europe and had injuries too - which has seemingly prevented him from playing so far. Nunez isn't in the typical CF mould like Firmino/ Jota have been, he's more a ST. I think he'll come good though, looked a great player at Benfica but it may need Klopp adjusting his system to suit him more.
Of course they’ve overachieved, look at City, Chelsea and Utd. Those 3 throw big money at every problem. Liverpool like Spurs and Arsenal can spend big now and then but not without consequence and have to balance the books in order to keep going. To win the PL and CL like they did was a huge achievement in the era of the oil money clubs
That's the thing: Liverpool have also long had a history of throwing money at a problem, both in terms of transfer fees and especially wages, but people turn a blind eye to it
