17 January 2023 , 12:49
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12 months is a long time in football. Just ask Liverpool.
This time last year, Jurgen Klopp's side looked completely unstoppable: they were challenging on all fronts to claim an unprecedented quadruple and came agonisingly close to achieving the impossible.
But this season, the Reds have found things difficult. Already, their title dreams are over following a string of unexpected defeats in the Premier League. And while there is the solace of the FA Cup and the Champions League, both are likely to be beyond them unless both their form and performances pick up in the coming months.
The Reds' usually dependable engine room has been at the heart of their dramatic - and unexpected - decline.
That alone would have been unthinkable not long ago. After all, Liverpool's midfielders have been crucial to the sustained spell of success the Reds have enjoyed over the past few years.
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Anfield favourite Danny Murphy even suggested that Liverpool were so well-stocked in that position that the arrival of Thiago Alcantara back in 2020 could cause Klopp issues.
Writing in The Daily Mail at the time, Murphy said of Thiago: "He has great feet, passes well, has super awareness and can play in any of the midfield positions. I don't see any risk at under £30million because he only had a year left on his Bayern contract.
"I do think Gini Wijnaldum's departure has an air of inevitability about it now because Liverpool will have seven or eight players challenging for three positions, which means too many unhappy faces for the balance of the squad."
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Danny Murphy was worried Liverpool had too many midfield options in 2020 (Getty Images)Murphy's claim hasn't aged well: rather than having too many, Liverpool are now in desperate need of more high-quality options in midfield.
Thiago, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have all struggled to replicate the form they've shown in previous years. All three struggled in Saturday's chastening 3-0 defeat at Brighton.
Thiago is the only senior central midfielder Liverpool have signed permanently since they snapped up Fabinho and Naby Keita back in 2018 - and they've also failed to adequately replace Georginio Wijnaldum, who left the club in the summer of 2021. Keita has failed to live up to expectations and continues to be plagued by injuries, while James Milner is now very much in the twilight of his career and is no longer capable of running games at an elite level in his favoured position.
Liverpool's midfield has struggled this term and was exposed again by Brighton at the weekend (Frank Augstein/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Both could leave the club at the end of the season, along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, meaning Liverpool have a major rebuilding job on their hands.
The January transfer window is not really the optimum environment for that rebuild to take place, but the Reds can begin some of the work in earnest.
A host of high-profile names have already been tentatively linked with a move to Anfield, including Jude Bellingham. But as good as the England star is, Liverpool will need more to solve the issues that have derailed their season.
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It almost defies belief to think that a little over two-and-a-half years ago the Reds were in a position of such strength with their midfield options; there is an awful lot of work that needs to be done if they are to work themselves back into a similar position again.