For Jurgen Klopp, a witch roams inside Liverpool. There’s perhaps a grain of truth to this. Maybe a sulking spirit (not of Shankly’s, I assume) lurks inside Anfield’s walls, spooking the Reds who walk through its doors. It certainly seemed so against Manchester United. The Merseysiders started as if under a hex, lulled into laziness by a torrent of Mancunian abuse (or were they, shamans?). Virgil Van Dijk, for instance, stood transfixed for Sancho’s goal as if he’d seen a ghost drag Milner across the goal’s face, landing the veteran on his rear for the gags. 

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But it’s still early doors in the season, enough time for Klopp to unpick the areas haunted by the alleged evil spirits. If a full-fledged exorcism is in order, may it begin from the following areas: 

#1. The walking wounded

The club are in the midst of an injury crisis. With over eight first-team starters absent (including Darwin Nunez due to suspension), the Merseysiders are light across the pitch. The midfield has taken the worst hit, of course. The tempo-setting, game-running Thiago Alcantara’s absence is most glaring, but Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain are all handy names, robbing much depth in the department. 

Diogo Jota is another player Klopp misses terribly. As Roberto Firminho continues to fade, Jota’s dynamism and quality bring a lethal edge to their frontline. Ibrahim Konate and Joel Matip are the other notable starters missing in action.

#2. The Midfield

At Old Trafford, Klopp fielded a midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Harvey Elliot. Apart from young Elliot, the midfield lacked spark, balance too. Henderson struggled to impose himself centrally, while Milner was a willing runner, but no more. Elliot erred occasionally, but he remained a thrusting presence, finding space between the lines, linking with Salah and Alexander-Arnold. But control was crucially absent. Klopp threw on Fabinho in the second half, immediately making a difference. The Brazilian allows Liverpool defensive cover, often sussing counterattacks before they even begin in earnest, but even he cannot replace Thiago’s passing range. The Spaniard pings passes with invention and ease, bringing genuine verticality to their build-up play. The sooner he returns, the better. 

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#3. Van Dijk & Trent Alexander-Arnold

The Dutchman and the Liverpudlian have been well below par. While Alexander-Arnold still has a rude pass on him, he’s been terrible defensively. A liability 1v1 or when caught upfield- as he is wont to with Liverpool’s high press- opposition teams are increasingly targeting his channel. Against Fulham, like against Real Madrid in the Champions League final,.he was at fault for poor marking. Last night Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga tormented him with their speed and direct running. If the full-back’s defensive qualities have long been under a cloud, the same isn’t true for Virgil Van Dijk. 

The Dutchman, usually so sure-footed, has been suspect since the opening day. At Old Trafford, he effectively surrendered to Jadon Sancho in the lead-up to United’s first goal. Instead of barging forward to close the angle, he maintained a watching brief, his arms folded behind his back. It was perhaps his only glaring error, but a general authority is lacking in the Pool backline. 

#4. Sluggish starts

Klopp’s Liverpool are known to fly off the traps, but this season they’ve they’ve looked leggy early doors. Even when they have a measure of control, it is all too fleeting. Arguably, their best football came against Palace when down to 10 men. Otherwise, the Reds keep flitting in and out of their usual selves. Against United, they began to assert themselves only after conceding the first. A side built in Klopp’s image cannot sleepwalk, lest they wish (footballing) murder upon themselves. It’s hard to pinpoint a reason for their stupor, but the turnover time between last season and the present one has something to do with it. 

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#5. The lost final? 

It happened to Tottenham Hotspur, but perhaps even mighty Liverpool isn’t above the heartaches of losing a Champions League final. Billed as favourites before the Paris clash against Real Madrid, the Reds were felled by Vinicius Jr.’s goal, Courtois’ goalkeeping and Madrid’s midfield mastery. It was a dagger blow to Liverpool’s season. Having clawed their way back in the league, only to miss out by the finest of margins, the Champions League would have added the necessary gloss to what was, in truth, a remarkable season. Instead, they paraded their FA and League Cup trophies with little joy and great longing.