So much hope. So much expectation. So little progress.
Three sentences I thought I’d never write just a few weeks ago when life seemed so rosy under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
That purple patch around Christmas and New Year with three successive wins, including away at Everton and at home to Manchester City, seems a distant memory.
Those heady days of stunning, exhilarating victories at Chelsea and Arsenal seem to belong to a different era.The expectation that this season would see a serious challenge for the Premier League has withered and died since the start of the year. Even a Champions League spot - surely the minimum expectation at the start of the season - appears beyond Liverpool now.
Photo: Reuters/Carl Recine
After nearly 18 months in charge, Klopp’s charm is wearing mighty thin. After nearly 18 months the same problems exist - the woeful defence, the lack of midfield creativity, the lack of a cutting edge, the team selection which cost the club any chance in the FA Cup, the baffling substitutions, the lack of strength in depth, the decision to stick by players clearly out of form, the infrequent appearance of Origi or Sturridge… need I go on?
For me, the turning point in the season was the 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth. I can’t imagine any of the other top six sides caving in as Liverpool did that day. At 3-1 up they would have closed the game down and run out comfortable winners.
After those all-too-brief days earlier in the season when Liverpool were scoring for fun, Klopp seems unable to come up with a plan to enable the team to grind out results. He appears tactically inflexible and because we don’t have wingers, teams are happy to bottle us up by forcing us inside.
They play on the break, knowing they can tear Liverpool apart almost at will. Humbling defeats by Hull and Leicester sadly appear the norm.
There’s the occasional flicker such as the impressive home win over Tottenham but why is it that good performances against the top teams are totally undermined by desperate displays against teams such as Plymouth and Wolves, let alone those towards the bottom of the Premier League?
Last season, Klopp managed to get Liverpool to two cup finals and lost both. This season there’s now only the forlorn hope of a top four place. I hope I’m wrong but I fear not.
At the beginning of the season Chelsea were in disarray. New manager Antonio Conte identified the problems and fixed them to brilliant effect.
Manchester United couldn’t seem to grasp what Jose Mourinho wanted. He identified the root causes, took action and has won a major trophy in his first season.
So, Mr Klopp, what are you going to do to put things right?
*Jim Mansell is Sportsmail’s Consultant Sports Editor