In Focus: No need for Liverpool to panic after slow start

Liverpool were one of the best teams in the land last season — but their 2022-23 campaign has not gone to plan so far.

A shock 2-1 defeat to fierce rivals Manchester United means Jurgen Kopp’s men are yet to taste victory so far this term, picking up just two points from three games.

As the Reds look to kick-start their season against Bournemouth on Saturday, we look at what is behind their early-season problems.

Slow start

When Liverpool overcame champions Manchester City 3-1 in the Community Shield, it looked as though the Merseysiders may have the upper hand heading into the Premier League campaign.

But the Reds were unusually sloppy in their opener as they salvaged a 2-2 draw against Fulham and needed a Luis Diaz stunner to take a point at home to Crystal Palace.

The trip to Old Trafford against a United team in crisis mode appeared to be the ideal time to get up and running.

But that performance was arguably the most disappointing of all so far, with Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils claiming a deserved victory through Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford’s goals.

A return of two points from three games is Liverpool’s worst start to the season for 10 years, leaving them five below City and seven behind top-of-the-table Arsenal.

Key stars missing

The departure of Sadio Mane this summer was a blow and multiple injuries at the start of the campaign have not made things much easier.

With the likes of Joel Matip, Thiago and Diogo Jota unavailable, it is been far from the rip-roaring Liverpool we have become accustomed to so far.

That is why £64million signing Darwin Nunez’s straight red card against Crystal Palace last week was the last thing they needed.

After the defeat at Old Trafford, Klopp, 55, said: “I am concerned about our situation, but that is how it is. We deal with it and we prepare now for Bournemouth, then Newcastle, then Everton.

“We are in a tricky situation injury-wise — we got through the week with 14 or 15 senior players available, and we have to make sure they don’t get injured now.”

Quiet window

While there appear to be gaps in the squad, no new transfers appear to be close at this stage.

That means Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay are set to be their only incomings of the window.

Midfield appears to be the biggest area of concern, with the Reds starting with a trio of James Milner, 36, Jordan Henderson, 32 and Harvey Elliott, 19, against United.

And while Klopp is usually reserved in calling for transfer reinforcements, he has admitted a new arrival in the centre of the park might be needed given their injuries.

He said prior to the trip to Old Trafford: “This situation did not change. Now we have more injuries than we would have imagined and it would be cool to have another midfielder in, of course.”

Stark stats

But the drop-off in performance from those who have taken to the field so far this season might be the biggest concern.

The statistics, albeit from a small sample size of just three games, suggest a lack of intensity compared to 2021-22.

With Liverpool’s game usually focusing on winning the ball high up the pitch, they are doing that just five times per 90 minutes this season, compared to 7.55 last term.

They appear to be going safer in possession too, resulting in them playing less football in the attacking third.

Klopp’s men have completed an average of 544.33 passes per match this season, compared to 527.16 in 2021-22.

But less of those are being made in the final third, with just 129 per game in their opening three outings — falling short of the 140.34 they managed in the previous campaign.

Positive signs

But while not the start they would have envisaged, it would be an exaggeration to say their Premier League title hopes are already over.

You only have to look at City’s draw at Newcastle on Sunday to show that plenty of points will be dropped between now and May.

The statistics from last night’s game actually have Liverpool coming out on top for chances created (13), shots on target (five) and expected goals (1.74), while they also enjoyed the lion’s share of possession (70%).

And Klopp is certainly not getting carried away, adding post-match: “Even with our situation, with being a little bit better, we should have won this game.

“I know it sounds ridiculous, but that is how I saw it.”

If key players return sooner rather than later, there appears to be no reason why they will not be their usual selves over the next few games.