The FSG and Liverpool’s recruitment team could be forgiven for not anticipating the marked drop in quality of the Reds’ quadruple hunt last term.
Regardless, the evidence on offer in 2022/23 simply cannot be ignored at this stage with the team eight points out of the top four (albeit with one game to go).
Dan Kennett, a professional data analyst, raised some concerns on Twitter about the latest deals Michael Edwards secured before his departure, with several underperforming key men on long-term contracts.
I’ve always been a fan of Michael Edwards but I think we need to re-watch his last big LFC act, the biggest contract run in club history in the summer of 2021 /Thread ????
— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) October 30, 2022
The concern for the short/medium term is that we have a large number of very expensive 30+ year contracts on the books. These are AFTER this season: Alisson 31-34 Fabinho 30-33 Van Dijk 32-33 Henderson 33-34 Robertson 30-32 Salah 31-32 Matip 32 Thiago 32 Jota 30 Diaz 30
— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) October 30, 2022
A parallel for LFC could be the huge contract mess the Red Sox got into 2017-19 (Price/Sale/Eovaldi). FSG greatly changed its approach under Dombrowski and secured a fourth WS. But the legacy of that victory limited them for years and they have yet to recover /End
— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) October 30, 2022
The parallels between Jurgen Klopp’s men and the Red Sox’s decline are somewhat frightening, though one has to assume that, given the German tactician’s record, we are capable of getting out of the current mess.
READ MORE: Don Hutchison sends a clear message that FSG can’t ignore with Liverpool’s latest claim: “It may not be the end of the world”
The transfers in January seem essential to constantly turn on the ignition and start a path to the top four places.
Perhaps a long break for some players, provided by the World Cup in Qatar, is key, although it is telling that many of our main stars responsible for taking us to the top of the league and the Champions League final in recent years are struggling to reach his best form. .
A radical change is needed, beyond tactics and, fortunately, our owners will already have an idea of what needs to be done in terms of investment to prevent this alarming decline from continuing beyond this campaign.
Ep63 of The Empire of the Kop podcast: Klopp’s ridiculous accusations of xenophobia, Núñez shining… and more!
