31 December 2023 , 05:00
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Liverpool's 2023 is proof of how much things can change in the space of 12 months.
The Reds started the year by dropping down to 10th in the Premier League table to hit a new low under boss Jurgen Klopp. While the Merseyside club finished outside the top four for the first time since 2016, there were still major highlights such as the massacre of Manchester United in March.
Klopp then masterminded a miraculous summer rebuild that has turned his side from strugglers into title contenders. Here, Mirror Football looks back on a year that heralded a new era for Liverpool.
A disastrous January
Things started well for Liverpool as they wrapped up the signing of Cody Gakpo before the January window even opened, beating rivals Manchester United to his signature. But the Dutchman would be the sole arrival at Anfield in the winter window.
Having entered the year on a four-match winning run, the Reds were humilated in their first game of 2023 by Brentford. The Bees claimed a 3-1 win over Klopp's side, with multiple defensive errors proving costly as veteran defender Andy Robertson slammed his team-mates.
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"With the fans sitting at home or on the bus back up to Liverpool, it's not good enough for them. We've spoken about consistency and things like that but we're not getting it. It feels like we're one step forward and one step back at the moment," the Scot fumed.
A defeat at Wolves ensured Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool crashed to a new low at the start of the year (AFP via Getty Images)A defeat to Brighton and a draw with Chelsea followed before the Reds fell to their third successive league defeat away from home for the first time in 11 years at Wolves. The 3-0 reverse sent Liverpool into 10th, with boss Klopp left furious.
"Conceding early goals is not unfamiliar to us but the way we conceded them today was not acceptable. You do yourself no favours in these moments, giving easy balls away. We were passive in the two goals, I can't explain it," he told Match of the Day.
"The leadership [defensively] is missing but this is not my first explanation, I really think in the specific situation we could have and should have done better. We better change it. That's true, 100 per cent. I have no words for it really, I'm sorry."
There would be no reprieve in the FA Cup, as goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Lewis Dunk ensured the holders were dumped out of the competition at the end of January by Brighton.
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Rivals destroyed
A win over Everton got their season back on trackKlopp's fury in the aftermath of the defeat to Wolves had the desired effect, with the Reds bouncing back with a win over local rivals Everton. That was the start of a five-game unbeaten run, which concluded with an incredible win over Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag's side had enjoyed a strong season heading into their trip to Anfield in March. It was the perfect performance, as Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah all scored doubles, with Roberto Firmino completing a stunning 7-0 rout.
Salah's two goals meant that he became the Reds' record scorer in the Premier League and their top scorer against United. It was the biggest win from either side in the fixture, eclipsing a 127-year record, with Klopp left speechless.
Mohamed Salah became the club's record Premier League scorer in a rout of Manchester United (PA)"No words. Spectacular football game. Outstanding. We played top football against the team in form. The second half the start was pretty good and the end was pretty good. That is football, it can happen," he told Sky Sports.
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"It was the push we wanted. It puts us in the right direction. Everyone has to know we are still around. It wasn't the case for a while but tonight was a proper show of what we can be and what we have to be from now on."
The manner of the win convinced club icon Jamie Carragher that it could signal a new dawn for the Reds in what had been a difficult campaign. He tipped them to make a push for the top four in the final months of the season.
"When you see Liverpool put in a performance like that it makes you feel, 'How has it been that bad for a lot of the season?'. When you win by a shock scoreline it almost knocks a bit of the celebration because Manchester United become the story more," he said.
"It gives Liverpool a huge boost in terms of getting in the top four. It's really important in terms of what they could do in the summer financially and maybe a player they could bring in. There's a lot of talk of Jude Bellingham and lots of clubs going for him."
Crashing back to Earth
A dire defeat to Real Madrid brought the Reds crashing back down to Earth ((Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))Carragher's hopes would prove to be misguided though, with Liverpool suffering a shock defeat at struggling Bournemouth in their next game. That trip to the Cherries came after they had been dumped out of the Champions League by a rampant Real Madrid.
Los Blancos claimed a stunning 5-2 win at Anfield in the first-leg, with the Reds left shell-shocked. It ws a result that led to Klopp admitting his side's future in Europe was over for another year.
"I think Carlo [Ancelotti] thinks the tie is over - and I think it as well in the moment, but in three weeks... Tonight, with the 5-2, we have to score three goals there and take some risk, so that could be a bit tricky. It is really not even in my mind," he said.
Their hopes of finishing in the top four were then all but ended with a disastrous defeat to Manchester City. The hosts came from a goal down to win 4-1, demonstrating the growing gulf between the two teams.
Liverpool would go unbeaten for the rest of the campaign, but a 4-4 draw at relegated Southampton on the final day summed up what had been a serious step back for the Reds.
Winds of change
Jordan Henderson led the list of big-name departures in the summer (Getty Images)Such a dire season meant that a rebuild was inevitable in the summer and Klopp duly delivered. Seven senior players departed Anfield, including captain Jordan Henderson, vice captain James Milner, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino.
Henderson's move to Saudi Arabia sparked fury from the LGBT+ community, following his previous support for the Rainbow Laces campaign, with the midfielder being slammed by Liverpool's LGBT+ fan group.
"We are appalled and concerned that anyone might consider working for a sportswashing operation for a regime where women & LGBT+ people are oppressed and that regularly tops the world death sentence table," Kop Outs said in a statement.
Virgil van Dijk was promptly named captain, with Trent Alexander-Arnold made his deputy. The Dutchman was left overwhelmed and speechless by the honour.
Klopp appointed Virgil van Dijk as his new captain (Getty Images)“A really proud day for me, for my wife, for my kids, my family. It’s been a special feeling and I can’t really describe it at this point. But it’s something that I’m really, really proud of," he said.
With the heart of Liverpool's midfield leaving, Klopp overhauled the position, shelling out more than £160million to sign Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Waturo Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, leaving the boss hopeful for the future.
"What I would like to ask for: trust us. We feel really responsible for what's happening here and we will do absolutely everything to have a season, in the best possible understanding, we will never forget. That's the plan," he said ahead of the new season.
"I know I do the job now for ages but my excitement so far didn't stop. I'm really happy being here. I want to put things right and that gives me the extra edge as well. The fever, the power, the excitement is bigger when last year was not great."
Title credentials restored
Darwin Nunez scored in the win over Newcastle to restore Liverpool's title credentials (GETTY)Klopp's belief would prove to be well-founded, with the Reds starting the season with a six-game unbeaten run. That included a miraculous win over Newcastle, having come from a goal down despite having Van Dijk sent off early on.
They did suffer a setback in a defeat to Tottenham, which led to a furious response from the club towards refereeing standards in the Premier League thanks to an incorrect VAR decision. That remains their only league defeat of the campaign though, with Klopp's side emerging as one of the top title contenders.
The Reds are currently leading the way alongside Arsenal and are five points ahead of reigning champions Manchester City. But Carragher is refusing to get carried away.
"I think Liverpool are not ready to win the league, I think Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool supporters know that right now. They want to get back in the top four but in terms of challenging again I think they need another midfield player and a top class defender," he said.
Away from the Premier League, it has been a successful season in the cup competitions, with Klopp's side reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and the Last 16 of the Europa League. With 2024 on the horizon, it appears the only way is up for Liverpool.