Why have we turned in to a sack of brick since January?! Liverpool’s players have played as many games but seem to actually put a shift in and don’t play brick. So frustrated that the team seems to have just given up and not bothered any more. Feel like there must be something going on behind the scenes.
Liverpool refreshed their squad. We didn't.
Also, I suspect it may be a case of Liverpool being ruthless, while we just aren't. Liverpool saw the otherwise reasonably reliable Karius fumble in a CL final - entirely not his fault, he was concussed by Sergio Ramos beforehand.
But they shipped him out immediately and bought Alisson for 65m. No room for sentiment.
Liverpool had bumbling-but-passionate center backs in Matip and Lovren. They swiftly dumped them onto the substitutes bench (if that) by bringing in Van Dijk for 75m. No room for sentiment.
Needed a defensive midfielder, since their beloved captain Hendo couldn't do the job by himself anymore. Went out, bought Fabinho (45M). Needed a central midfielder, despite Oxlade-Chamberlain slowly coming back from an injury (and potentially being available). Didn't wait, went out and bought Naby Keita (45-50M).
Liverpool had sub-par wing-backs, including the likes of Clyne who had previously shone, but was recovering from an injury. Dumped them in favor of Andy Robertson (dunno how much, but cheap) and TAA.
All this was done *in addition* to having signed Salah and gotten to the CL final the previous summer. They didn't sit on their hands, didn't let sentiment overrule ambition, and didn't keep players around or worry about finding buyers for them. They bought first, shipped the others out later.
They were ruthless. And I suspect that translates to the squad - that mentality that says that you are replaceable, whomever you may be. Perform, train at your maximum, concentrate for the full 90 minutes, and you're safe. Slip, and you *will* be moved on.
We didn't do that. We haven't done that. Injuries have forced our hand to an extent, but these players have no effective competition, and likely no fear for their squad places. And maybe (just guessing here) a little bit of competitive spirit was lost, and we gave up post Jan as the tiredness set in.