Liverpool in Crisis: Why is it so difficult to revalidate the title?

Liverpool’s Disastrous Decline: What Went Wrong?

Liverpool, after a disappointing season, finds itself mired in a performance crisis. After investing a considerable sum in signings and being crowned champion, the team is in an unexpected position in the table. The team has conceded an alarming number of goals, highlighting a worrying defensive fragility. This situation contrasts notably with the performance of previous seasons, when Liverpool demonstrated solidity and consistency.

Despite having the same center-backs and midfielders, along with new full-backs that were supposed to improve the defense, Liverpool has conceded more goals than most teams in the league. Furthermore, despite having a promising attacking squad, they have failed to score 20 goals in the first 12 matches, something that hadn’t happened in a decade.

Players like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, expensive signings, haven’t had the expected impact, which has caused concern among fans. Even Hugo Ekitike seems to be the only bright spot in the transfer window, despite being a center forward who has only scored a few goals. Mohamed Salah’s situation has also been the subject of analysis, as his current performance is lower than in previous seasons. The future of Liverpool is uncertain. Although there is hope that the team will improve, the chances of competing for the title seem slim. Projection systems suggest that the options for surpassing the teams leading the table are minimal. This decline of Liverpool aligns with a trend observed in the Premier League: the champion usually experiences a slump in the following season.

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The Difficulty of Revalidating the Title in the Premier League

Since the beginning of the Premier League in the 90s, only a limited number of teams have managed to repeat as champions. To achieve this, it generally requires having a renowned coach, generating high income, or being exempt from certain financial regulations. Of the teams that have repeated as champions, few have improved their performance in the following season. Most experience a decrease in points and goal difference.

When a team wins the Premier League, it usually loses 10% of points in the following season.

Performance Analysis

The difficulty in revalidating the title lies in the combination of factors that usually converge to win the league. Success often depends on an exceptional performance during a season, where everything goes perfectly. In the case of Liverpool, last season was marked by the absence of injuries, the good understanding between the coach and the players, the outstanding performance of key players, and the overall stability of the team. However, in the current season, injuries, the adaptation of coach Arne Slot, and the inconsistent performance of key players have affected the team’s performance. In addition to the team’s internal variability, rivals also play an important role. External factors, such as injuries in opposing teams, can influence the final result. Predicting success in the Premier League is complicated. Teams that repeat as champions usually share specific characteristics: they finish in the top positions the previous season, improve their performance in the title season, and score high. Liverpool, on the other hand, did not meet these requirements, which suggests that they are not in a position to win the Premier League.