One could consider Liverpool’s return to the Champions League to be a season of success.Jan Molby has reached that conclusion, but the Reds great thinks it might be “written in the stars” for Jurgen Klopp to win the one major title he hasn’t yet taken home.
By their own lofty standards, Liverpool’s 2022–23 campaign was lackluster. They failed to contend for any hardware and only managed to finish fifth in the Premier League. Consequently, the Reds were dropped from Europe’s top competition to the Europa League before to major summer roster adjustments by manager Jurgen Klopp.
After their contracts expired, Roberto Firmino, James Miner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita left the team, and Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were traded to Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. In the meantime, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister were hired.
Liverpool’s 2023–24 campaign is off to a promising start. Following a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium with Premier League leaders Manchester City, some are calling for a title challenge.
Speaking during the opening of the Ultimate LFC Experience, Molby said that the Reds’ main goal ought to be to finish in the top four. Still, the one trophy the German has failed to win during his time at Anfield is the Europa League, which Klopp’s team is expected to win. Given that the championship match is taking place in Dublin in a few days, Molby believes Liverpool’s success could be predetermined.
“I think, to start with, getting back into the top four,” he stated. Even though it’s easy to get indifferent to it when you’re in the Champions League, which we aren’t this year, it’s not the same. If you win the Europa League and that signifies Jurgen has taken home every trophy available, it’s fantastic.
“But more than that, we must participate in the Champions League as a team like Liverpool. I would propose that the top four is the only goal we currently have; anything else is a bonus. It seems as though the Europa League is etched in the stars, which is why I keep returning to it.
“People are realizing that this is just the beginning of a new journey rather than a total reconstruction. If we could only pull everything together, everybody would be overjoyed. The previous time, [being eligible for] the Champions League was the first step.
“The financial aspect is significant, despite the fact that most individuals prefer not to discuss it. The first step needs to be taken because the Champions League has the resources that the Europa League cannot match.”
Given the team changes, many have been surprised by Liverpool’s season opening performance. Undoubtedly, the exits of Henderson and Fabinho were not anticipated before to the arrival of the Saudi Pro League, one of the major summer transfer market disruptors.
The Reds now have a problem trying to find a number-six after both departures. While Endo has taken some time to adjust, Mac Allister, who is a more natural attacking midfielder, has been used in the position most of the time.
Molby thinks adding a pure defensive option to the engine room will be the last piece of the puzzle. “All in all, I’m a little surprised,” he continued. Who was going to take some of our players was a curveball. When Saudi Arabia decides to visit and sign some of our midfield players, what should you do? They managed to get out of it fairly well in terms of the price and the players’ demonstrated abilities, keeping a few players in mind.
“I still believe that in order for the pieces to fit together, we might need to add another midfield player. Even with everything we’ve done, I’m still trying to figure out what combination and balance makes up our greatest midfield three, one that you would be glad to send out to play against our closest rivals, Man City and Arsenal. It appears that we could be [the job of the number-six]. Although Alexis is a press-resistant number-six who has been expected to play that role, I don’t think he’s been able to give it his all.”
