Is Liverpool’s golden era over?

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“We weren’t good enough, that’s why we’re out,” coach Jürgen Klopp (55) summed up Liverpool’s performance against Real Madrid at DAZN. The overall result of the two rounds of 16 matches was 6–2 – the Reds’ heaviest defeat in the Champions League.

Bitter for the club, which has reached the final three times in the past five years and triumphed in 2019. Where four titles were still possible until the end of last season – Liverpool won both domestic cups, only lost the battle for the league title in the last round and lost to Real Madrid in the CL final – it is already clear that this season will be titleless. to stay.

Enough strong players

Is that the end of the Reds’ golden era? It seems that way for now. The triple storm, which played a key role in recent successes, is erupting. Sadio Mané (30) left the club for Bayern Munich last summer, Roberto Firmino (31) says goodbye after this season, but has not been undisputed lately.

Only Mo Salah (30) remains. But there is also speculation about him: according to the Spanish portal Fijaches, PSG would be hot for the Egyptian. Perhaps more importantly: in midfield they lacked the necessary blood refreshment, the departure of the all-important Georginio Wijnaldum (32) has not been properly replaced since 2021.

Club legend Michael Owen (43, 216 games) does not believe the golden era is over. “The strength of Liverpool is this group of players who stood in the ditches together and won,” he told BT Sport. It doesn’t need a refresher course, you have plenty of other strong players. “Darwin Nunez was the best striker in the world last year. Cody Gakpo was one of the stars at the World Cup,” he cites as an example.

Premier League without Klopp and Liverpool?

Despite this, the scenario looms that Liverpool will not play in the Champions League next season. After the diver against relegation candidate Bournemouth (0:1), the gap to fourth place and the premier class ticket is six points. It would be a first for Klopp. Since 2016/17 and his first full season as manager, Liverpool have always played in the Premiership.

No wonder he is now aiming to crack the top 4. If you can do that it would be a great success and ‘top of the shelf’ at Klopp. It’s ‘the’ competition and we want to be there every year and that’s a big challenge for us now.”

For now, Liverpool has time to process Real’s bankruptcy. The Premier League will not continue until the beginning of April – with a tough program. Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are waiting one after the other. All these duels could decide about the Champions League. Whether Klopp’s future at Liverpool depends on this is an open question. (bir)

Source : Blick