The Reds look certain to be crowned champions of England for the 20th time, and yet they're going into Sunday's Carabao Cup on a real low
Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain couldn't have gone much worse for Liverpool. For starters, they lost – and in heart-breaking fashion too, with the Reds beaten 4-1 on penalties after a gruelling encounter that inflicted as much physical pain on Arne Slot's side as psychological.
Consequently, a team that moved 15 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League just last weekend is now going into Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Newcastle on a real downer.
Liverpool are, of course, renowned for their resilience. A trip to Wembley obviously represents a wonderful opportunity to immediately bounce back ahead of what should be a very enjoyable match towards a 20th English title.
However, there's no denying that the champions elect are suddenly shrouded in uncertainty after a devastating European elimination that could have serious repercussions for the club, and plenty of its players…
AFPNo reliable No.9
Much has been made of the fact that Arsenal's failure to sign a striker last summer has cost them dearly in this season's Premier League title race, and it's a very valid point. However, it is also worth pointing out that Liverpool don't actually have a No.9 they can count on either, and it was a key contributing factor to their last-16 exit.
Diogo Jota started up front in both legs and one couldn't fault him for effort on either occasion – but the perma-crocked Portuguese just didn't look match fit at all. So, it was no surprise to see him hauled off before the 75-minute mark in both games – and without scoring, too, meaning his four-year goal drought in the Champions League will now drag into another season.
Of course, there's no guarantee that Jota will still be at Anfield come the start of the 2024-25 campaign. He's a terrific finisher and a tremendously versatile forward, but the sad fact of the matter is that he just can't be relied upon to stay fit.
Darwin Nunez, meanwhile, can't really be trusted to do anything other than disappoint. Just when you think he might be about to turn things around, he lets you down again. The past week is the perfect cast in point. The unpredictable Uruguayan set up Harvey Elliott's winner at Parc des Princes before netting against Southampton at the weekend, sparking calls from certain quarters for him to start the second leg against PSG. However, he was awful after coming on and nobody was at all surprised to see him miss a crucial spot-kick.
The bottom line is that Liverpool need to sign a new No.9 this summer, as Mohamed Salah's sensational strike-rate has been disguising the team's lack of a prolific centre-forward for far too long.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportEngine room running out of steam
Alexis Mac Allister admitted after Liverpool's crucial back-to-back Premier League wins over Manchester City and Newcastle that he and the rest of team-mates were looking forward to a weekend off due to their early elimination from the FA Cup. The hope was that their first real break of a punishing campaign would help the Reds recharge their batteries. Remember, the 2-0 defeat of Newcastle was Liverpool's fifth Premier League outing in just 15 days.
However, Slot's side have looked even leggier since returning to action. They struggled horribly to cope with PSG's intensity at Parc des Princes, were surprisingly poor against Southampton, one of the worst teams in Premier League history, and although they looked more like their old selves in patches on Tuesday, most of their key men were exhausted by the end of the 90 minutes.
Mac Allister himself had been one of Liverpool's best players on the night, but didn't make it to extra-time after running himself into the ground, while even the seemingly indefatigable Dominik Szoboszlai had nothing left to give after 105 minutes. Given the pair's importance to Liverpool's pressing, their inevitable exhaustion is a major problem for Slot, particularly as Ryan Gravenberch appears to be running on empty.
The Dutchman was dreadful in Paris and only marginally better on Merseyside, so it's hard not to fear for the Reds preferred midfield trio in the Carabao Cup final, given they'll be going up against a Newcastle team that has had an extra day's rest.
Liverpool could make changes, of course. Wataru Endo would certainly add some much-needed energy into the equation, but the Japan international could be needed in the centre of defence, given Ibrahima Konate was forced off with cramps against PSG. Curtis Jones is another option, although he had major issues coping with the intensity of the game after coming off the bench for the start of extra-time.
All of a sudden, Liverpool's engine room appears in very real danger of breaking down.
AFPAlexander-Arnold's untimely injury
Have we seen the last of Trent Alexander-Arnold in a Liverpool shirt at Anfield? An awful lot of pundits and supporters were asking that question on Tuesday after the soon-to-be free agent was forced off with 17 minutes of normal time remaining.
At the time of writing, Liverpool have yet to issue a statement on the extent of the damage Alexander-Arnold did to his right ankle when he fell awkwardly on the sideline. However, as Slot admitted afterwards, it didn't look good, and the England international is a serious doubt for the Carabao Cup final, which is of far greater concern to the manager right now than whether Alexander-Arnold may have played his last game for Liverpool.
After all, Conor Bradley has already been ruled out of the trip to Wembley, meaning Jarell Quansah, a centre-half by trade, is probably the only legitimate option to fill at right-back. In that sense, this is a most unwelcome and untimely injury issue for both Alexander-Arnold Slot.
Getty ImagesBizarre Chiesa snub
Cody Gakpo's extra-time introduction should have been a boost for Liverpool's hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals. Instead, it was a blow.
The Dutchman has been one of Liverpool's best players this season, a minor revelation since being placed in his favoured position on the left flank, and his mere availability for the second leg was greeted with glee. The feeling was that even if he were only able to play 20-30 minutes, he could make a real impact off the bench. However, Gakpo could barely move after being brought on in the 101st minute.
There were no completed passes – let alone shots on goal – while he only managed to touch the ball three times. Worse still, he couldn't even get up to full speed when attempting to track back, meaning PSG players simply cruised past him. Gakpo was a complete passenger and his inability to defend undeniably contributed to the visitors' domination of the closing stages of the contest.
So, why did Slot bring on his compatriot – particularly when he had another industrious winger, Federico Chiesa, sitting on the bench? One can only conclude that the manager has zero faith in the Italy international, who has been plagued by fitness problems since arriving at Anfield, and it's now difficult to see Chiesa playing any part whatsoever in the remainder of the season. His Liverpool career already appears to be over.
As for Gakpo, the real worry now is that he suffered a setback immediately after being introduced and won't even be available to face Newcastle at Wembley.
Slot has done an amazing job since arriving at Anfield and is refreshingly honest in his interviews, so it would be nice if he explained what the hell is going on with Chiesa, and what on earth happened to Gakpo, in his pre-match press conference.
