Liverpool have started this season poorly, so will this be a difficult season of transition as they develop new understandings on the pitch?
In recent years, Liverpool fans, and football fans and commentators in general, have become used to the Reds winning their opening games and beginning to challenge at the top of the table.
With that in mind, it’s been quite surprising that after their first six games of the 2022/23 season, they still haven’t managed to climb any higher than sixth place in the Premier League.
The only team from the ‘big six’ that Liverpool have played is Manchester United, who they lost 2-1 to at Old Trafford.
As the team develops new understandings on the pitch with their new signings, is this simply a season of transition for Liverpool, or are more bad results to come before things get better?
Are we witnessing a transitional period for Liverpool?
Liverpool are currently experiencing their worst start to a Premier League campaign in recent history. However, their 9-0 thumping of Bournemouth on August 27, and their 2-1 win over Newcastle on August 31 could be a sign that their poor start to the season was just a blip.
Others are saying that the 2022/23 season is merely a transitional season for Liverpool and nothing to worry about as they develop new understandings on the pitch.
There were a couple of big arrivals this year, plus a few departures, so it’s just a case of the newly formed squad gelling as a team.
It could take the entire season before we see Liverpool back to their best, or it might happen much sooner. One of the biggest new arrivals this year was Darwin Núñez, who came to the club from Benfica for a reported fee of £67.50 million. They also added Fabio Carvalho who came in from Fulham for around £5.31 million.
Liverpool said goodbye to Sadio Mane, who joined Bundesliga side Bayern Munich for a total of £28.80 million, and some of the other departures included Neco Williams, Takumi Minamino, and Divock Origi, to name just a few. Anfield faithfuls and casuals looking to buy Liverpool tickets at SeatPick knew going into the season that there would be changes on the pitch.
Can Liverpool finish in a top-four spot?
Liverpool are already slipping down the list of potential title challengers when it comes to predictions using data and bookmakers’ odds. Major online sports betting sites currently have Liverpool priced at around +650 in American Moneyline odds to win the league outright. In UK fractional odds, this works out to 13/2, and in European decimal odds, it works out to 7.50. To finish in a top-four spot, they are priced at -335 (which is 3/10 or 1.30).
Based on these odds, it’s clear that Liverpool will no doubt have a good end to the season, but they are unlikely to beat current reigning champions Manchester City to lift the Premier League trophy.
The favourite to be the top goal scorer this season is Manchester City player Erling Haaland, who is also the favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award in 2023. Liverpool’s next Premier League game is on September 10 at home to Wolves, and then they go on to face Ajax at home in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.
They are currently in seventh place in the Premier League, and they will be looking to climb into the top four sooner rather than later.
COMMENTS