For fans, there’s a tendency to hold on to hope. While something is possible, you cling to it. To the idea that this week, this match, this opponent will be when it all clicks into gear. When the Real
Liverpool stands back up and gets back to demolishing the opposition as they did in the first half of last season.
The players and manager Arne Slot can cling to this, too, at least a little. Can point out that its still early and that a fair assessment must wait at least until a few more games are played and the season is at or at least nearer to its half-way point. Realistically, though, it’s likely we know what this Liverpool side is.
It’s likely this Liverpool side will end the season looking mostly like they do now. Top four contenders but not in the title mix with Manchester City and Arsenal. Part of the chasing pack, and maybe even as likely to miss out on re-qualifying for the Champions League as not. At least that’s how Robbie Fowler sees it.
“I have obviously played the game so I am more of a realest as the lads will tell you,” the ex-Red said this week. “You have an understanding of the game and the manager will come out and say all the right things, don’t get me wrong. You can’t say we’ve given up because that sounds terrible to an outsider.
“But you have got to have a bit of realism as well because I think history probably tells you there’s probably only two teams who have won the Premier League on the back of six or seven defeats. It’ll be hard for Liverpool now, and if they are going to win the league then they’ve got to win virtually every game.”
“They can’t even draw games, they have got to win them. So I think they’re out of the title race but I don’t think they can ever come out and say that they are, they have got to have that professionalism where you still need to try and get the points. But new players come in, a new coach—it’s a transitional period.”
Fowler, though, does understand the thoughts before the season kicked off that the Reds were potential title favourites given they dominate team of the year voting in England last season—and then added two players also in that mix in Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez plus Germany’s best young player.
“You talk about Liverpool signing players and, you know, Liverpool have signed the best class,” he added. “The Premier League team of the year last year had five Liverpool players and also Isak and Kerkez. So you’re going to sign them because they’re the best and they’ve signed the best player in Germany.”
The sum of all those parts, though, hasn’t been success. Not yet. Instead, it’s been what looks a transitional season. At least if one wants to see it positively. More negatively it looks like the wheels have fallen off and a title winning side has been made worse. Hopefully, by the end of the year we’ll know which.
