The of the Premier League table in the 2023/24 campaign is even tighter than usual, as not only do Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool charges find themselves once more battling against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side, this year there is a third real challenger in the shape of Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
After last weekend’s round of fixtures, a single point continues to separate all three teams, and although we are joint on 64 points with Arsenal, they have a slightly better goal advantage, and many fans will be left wondering what might have been had we been rightly awarded a second penalty late on during the City clash where Jeremy Doku’s boot found Alexis Mac Allister’s chest.
Whilst that continues to be one of the main talking points coming out of Sunday’s clash at Anfield, and many in the wider world of football remain amazed as to how the referee, Michael Oliver, missed it and it was then not caught by the Video Assistant Referee technology, one thing that should certainly not be overlooked from the 90 minutes was our performance – particularly the second half showing – and if you are a fan who likes a flutter you can bet on Champions League today as the European fixture window is back on the cards now.
Speaking to the media following the full time whistle, Klopp was understandably adamant that it was ‘100% a penalty’ and he joked that maybe the officials would ‘hide behind the phrase it is not clear and obvious’ but it also rightly seemed that he did not want that decision to overshadow just how well we played in the final 45 minutes of the game, calling it the ‘best we ever played’ against City in his time with us.
Describing the match as ‘exceptional’ his only complaint was that we did not convert two or three of the chances we created to take the win outright, irrespective of the penalty controversy. The 56 year old German’s main takeaway however was that for ‘the first time 100% we are exactly where we should be’ as he could not have been more delighted with the efforts of the players.
With us also putting Guardiola’s team under so much pressure and seeing them ‘struggling like they were’, it gave him even further hope and optimism for the league run in when it came to us lasting the pace and potentially taking the title once again.
His sentiments were echoed by numerous pundits in the wider world of football who had nothing but praise for our efforts on the day, and the kind of statement that it sent about our intentions, despite the ongoing injury situation that Klopp is juggling.
One question that naturally comes out of his words and will be on the mind of many fans, is that if Klopp is confident that this performance could be, let us say, compelling evidence of further growing quality within the side, with a rough average age of 24 – if he feels Liverpool are potentially on the verge of real greatness, could he be regretting his decision to announce that he will be leaving us at the end of the campaign.
On face value the answer is no, as he was asked the question after the game and he remained emphatic that nothing would change his decision. Fans will respect that after his service, even if they maintain a small hope something tempts him, so with a managerial search underway quietly in the background, it seems the board have three firm favourites.
If reports are to be believed our top choice is the previously mentioned Xabi Alonso. The 42 year old Spaniard is currently manager of German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
Should we not be successful in bringing him back to Liverpool, we have apparently short listed Brighton and Hove Albion’s 44 year old Italian manager Roberto De Zerbi, 36 year old German national gaffer Julian Nagelsmann and Sporting CP’s Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim, as viable back up candidates.
This is also amidst news that the club are now potentially also closing in on the game changing re-appointment of Michael Edwards, with Richard Hughes in talks to come in as our new sporting director.
It could well be a busy summer for fans.
