Liverpool's Season Still Successful Despite Setbacks
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Rewind a few weeks, and Liverpool looked like an unstoppable force. They looked like a team that was going to be successful on multiple fronts this term, with the Premier League title, the Champions League, and the Carabao Cup all within reach. However, since then, the Reds have been knocked out of the Champions League, and they've lost in the Carabao Cup final, leaving the Premier League trophy as their only winnable piece of silverware. But it's still been a successful season, and here's why.
At the start of the 2024/25 season, people weren't holding out much hope where Liverpool and silverware were concerned due to the fact that Jurgen Klopp had departed as manager. Football markets were always going to suggest Liverpool would be in with a chance as one of the division's better teams, but after seeing what transpired when the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger left Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively, it was thought that similar would occur at Anfield.
Arne Slot arrived as Klopp's replacement and immediately hit the ground running. Klopp's departure and Slot's arrival was almost timed to perfection, you could say, with the latter injecting fresh energy via new ideas into the team. Liverpool have looked a much better and more efficient team this season than they did last season, and their results and performances are evidence of this.
Usually, when a new manager arrives, he wants to bring in his own players. And Slot probably wanted to do precisely that. However, this wasn't possible for one reason or another. This makes what Liverpool have achieved this season all the more impressive. With no new real first-team additions, Slot has improved players and coached them well enough that they've been able to open up a significant lead at the top of the Premier League table. They also topped the Champions League group stage and made the Carabao Cup final.
An example of this is Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool were desperate to sign a number six in the summer, but after missing out on targets, Slot decided to coach Gravenberch to play as a six instead. It was a decision that some were initially unsure about, but the midfielder has been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League this season, excelling in his new role as one of Liverpool's most important players.
This also highlights an area that must be improved and why Liverpool's season has still been a success, even though they will only run out as Premier League champions. Slot has ultimately been forced to work with a small group of players capable of delivering what he wants on the pitch. This has taken the club so far in multiple competitions but ultimately become too big of an ask on the fitness and fatigue side in recent weeks.
Their success in the Premier League and how much better they've been than the rest of the competition is unexpected. And, their disappointments elsewhere aren't down to a lack of ability or tactics; they simply ran out of steam, and there's no shame in that in Slot's first season and the club's first campaign after Klopp.
- Liverpool FC
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