As the New Year is on the horizon, we decided to assess the 5 lessons learned by Liverpool in 2022.
What lessons did Liverpool learn in 2022?
1. Liverpool cannot afford to slack off in the transfer market
Barring the big-money addition of Darwin Nunez, Liverpool’s other incomings have all been project signings.
The likes of Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay are extremely gifted youngsters, but are ones for the future.
Ultimately, this transfer policy has meant the Reds have been left behind in the Premier League table, as they have failed to strengthen their squad sufficiently.
On the other hand, more proactive clubs in the transfer market like Arsenal and Manchester City have unsurprisingly thrived this season.
On the other hand, players past their sell-by-date such as James Milner and Jordan Henderson are still starting for a team that aims to win it all.
2. Do not leave major Liverpool contract extensions till the last minute
This lesson particularly applies in the case of how Liverpool handled Mohamed Salah’s contract extension.
Of course, Jurgen Klopp’s side could not do much about their being a dispute between club and player over a wage increase.
However, a world in which Salah had made up his mind and decided to leave would not have been an ideal one for Liverpool.
Despite the Egyptian winger not being at his very best, he remains one of, if not the side’s standout player to this day.
The earlier such major business deals are ticked off, the better.
3. Saying yes to January signings post-2022
Liverpool, like most elite clubs tend not to always dip into the January market, unless in emergency situations.
However, Luis Diaz’s instant success is a lesson that the Reds should try to invest at the turn of the year.
While not every new arrival will not necessarily hit the ground running like the Colombian wide forward, it still remains an astute strategy to strengthen one’s squad in the New Year.
Especially considering Klopp and Co. are usually expected to have a deep run in virtually every competition.
4. Not taking uncalculated transfer gambles
Yes, the aforementioned lesson is aimed towards Darwin Nunez.
This is not to give up on the Uruguayan, who has shown enough signs of becoming an eventual success in a Liverpool shirt.
However, the 22-year-old’s profile simply isn’t one that particularly suits Jurgen Klopp’s system.
The Reds’ attack was at its peak when Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were at their unplayable best.
The common theme in that frontline is that not a single forward is a traditional striker and it was this fluid quality that made the side devastating.
Nunez simply does not fit that bill and to go all in to sign a player who is an out-and-out No.9 as well as technically flawed as their plan A is an uncalculated gamble.
5. Trusting Liverpool legend Klopp beyond just 2022
Liverpool’s recent run of results have shown that it would be extremely premature to pull the plug on Jurgen Klopp, who signed a contract extension till 2026 (Sky Sports).
While there is no denying that the Reds have been abysmal all season, the German boss remains the ideal man to get them out of this rut.
The fact that the Reds have seemingly brushed aside any talk of a potential exit including Klopp and continued to keep the faith in the club legend is a lesson worth emphasizing.
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