There is no denying this has been a fantastic season for Liverpool.
The Reds are top of the Premier League with a 22-point lead, having won 26 out of 28 matches to date. Not only that, they have got their hands on two trophies already – the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
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In recent weeks, though, they have suffered something of a blip. For just the third time this season, they were defeated by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, losing 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano whilst failing to register a single shot on target, and they then only edged past West Ham, triumphing 3-2 after being 2-1 down with less than 30 minutes left.
Last weekend, they reached the lowest point of a campaign that, admittedly, has been with few problems so far – they were beaten 3-0 by Watford, who have spent most of the campaign in the relegation zone, after troubling Ben Foster between the sticks on just one occasion.
The Premier League has been all but sewn up for weeks – Pep Guardiola has even thrown in the towel as his Manchester City side sit in second place. But after failing to lose in 44 top-tier matches, a defeat in such convincing fashion against a team at the wrong end of the table will be a kick in the teeth for Jurgen Klopp and co, no matter how much he denies the importance of such records.
The next few weeks could completely transform how we view Liverpool’s campaign. The return leg against Atletico is a tricky fixture, especially considering the Merseyside outfit failed to score an away goal. Klopp and the players may be talking up the importance of Anfield, but it seems unlikely that Diego Simeone’s men will be over-awed by the occasion. Before that, though, they face Chelsea in the FA Cup. The Blues have not been at their best in recent weeks – they have just one win in their last five – but it is still a tough fixture to navigate.
Two weeks ago, an unbeaten league season and a treble both looked to be attainable objectives. Now, though, the former is no longer possible, and they are in danger of ending the campaign with just one major trophy. Of course, winning the Premier League after 30 years without a top-flight title would still make this a memorable season, but there is certainly the danger of it being remembered for what might have been as much as the Reds’ actual achievements.
The next few matches could turn their season from unforgettable to regrettable.
Elsewhere, this man’s Anfield departure is a huge compliment to the Reds.