Liverpool’s 6-2 defeat on aggregate against Real Madrid in the Last 16 of the Champions League has left fans feeling disheartened. Jurgen Klopp’s side, who had already lost the first leg 5-2 in England, would have required a miracle to overturn their three-goal deficit. While Wednesday night’s result may not have come as a shock to supporters, it has highlighted a concerning trend for the club, with just four victories in their last 10 games in all competitions.
This season’s Champions League elimination has proven that Liverpool is experiencing one of its trickiest periods yet under Klopp. Their current struggles are a far cry from the team that was once fighting for major silverware in England and on the continent. While the end of the season may see something for Liverpool to play for in the Premier League, supporters may feel inclined to draw a line under the 2022/23 season now and accept their losses to come.
Wednesday night’s result merely reinforced Liverpool’s season-long struggle in Cup competitions. After being taken to penalties by Derby County in the third round of the English League Cup in November, they were knocked out by Manchester City in the very next round. The FA Cup proved equally agonizing, with Liverpool unable to beat Wolves in the third round of the competition until a replay in mid-January, only to be eventually knocked out by Brighton in the next round.
With their focus now solely on Premier League success, Klopp’s team needs to salvage something from their unfortunate transition season. Currently, Liverpool sits six points behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur, with 11 games left to play of the league campaign. While there’s ample game time remaining for Liverpool to push for a top-four finish, upcoming clashes against Man City and Arsenal will test the team’s mental fortitude, and whether they can turn their dreadful season around.
It’s clear that Liverpool faces a major challenge in the months ahead. A disappointing season may suggest that there’s work to be done if the club wants to reclaim a position among Europe’s elite. While a handful of games in the Premier League remains, nothing is set in stone, and Liverpool will need to put their heads down, focus, and keep pushing to end what has been a rough season for the club.
