Liverpool have threatened to challenge for the Premier League title this season, but ultimately look set to fall short.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Stan Collymore has told the Daily Mirror that Jurgen Klopp must shoulder much of the blame for Liverpool’s inability to challenge for the Premier League title rather than the club’s owners, and has picked out three decisions that Klopp has got wrong this term.
The German’s first full season at Anfield has threatened to be a special one for the Reds, but they now face a real battle to keep their place in the top four. Though they are just one point off second, they are only five and six points above fifth and sixth respectively and have played two games more than both.
And while some Liverpool supporters may want to pin much of the blame on the club’s owners, Collymore has highlighted how Klopp also deserves some criticism for some of the calls he has made.
“What surprises me is that every time Liverpool lose a few games it’s their owners, FSG, who get the rollocking from fans,” he told the Mirror.
Liverpool’s James Milner
“But FSG didn’t make the decision to play James Milner at left-back, FSG didn’t make the decision to play Lucas Leiva at centre-half and FSG didn’t make the decision to let Mamadou Sakho , the club’s best in-box defender, go when they still needed him.
“That was down to Klopp, because his pride was more important than putting an arm round Sakho’s shoulder and telling him he was the best thing since sliced bread.”
In fairness to Klopp, James Milner has arguably done well in an unfamiliar position, but those who agree with Collymore will suggest that a specialist full-back would have probably performed even better.
Mamadou Sakho
And Sakho’s exile has arguably proved to be a poor piece of business with the centre-back looking bright in his first few appearances for Crystal Palace.
Had he been able to play at a similarly high level had he been given a chance at Liverpool this season, it would surely be fair to say that the Reds would have been considerably closer to Chelsea considering that they have scored more goals than anyone else but also conceded a greater number than any of their top six rivals.
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