Why “sky is the limit” for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp target “He has all the tools”

Why “sky is the limit” for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp target “He has all the tools”

Southampton will look to bow out of the Premier League with a win against Liverpool, with Reds fans keeping a close eye on highly-rated target Romeo Lavia.

A long and disappointing season comes to an end for Jurgen Klopp‘s side on Sunday afternoon, with fifth place now confirmed.

Liverpool end their campaign with a trip to the already-relegated Saints, in what is essentially a dead rubber at St Mary’s.

It may not be an afternoon with the drama of recent years, but nevertheless, the Reds will be hoping for a positive end to 2022/23.

Ahead of the match, we spoke to Saints fan and writer Luke Osman (@lukeosman_) to hear about his side’s campaign of woes, Liverpool’s future and much more.

It must have been a demoralising season for Saints – what’s gone so wrong?

It’s been a nightmare from start to finish.

There have been so many problems and they can all really be traced back to the ownership group, Sport Republic, and the decision-making of Rasmus Ankersen.

We didn’t sack Ralph Hasenhuttl quickly enough; failed to recruit a much-needed starting forward in the summer, whilst padding the squad out with untested kids; appointed Nathan Jones, gave him too long; made a mess of the January window and promoted Ruben Selles from his position as an assistant manager to manager, and he’s been dreadful.

So, all of these things have gone wrong…and that’s only a brief summary!

How do you assess the managerial situation?

Selles had to go. He’s been as bad as Jones, really, but is just more tolerable with the media and puts himself across in a more conventional fashion.

It sounds like Russell Martin is going to be the man who comes in and I have mixed feelings about this.

Sport Republic intend to gear the squad towards a more possession-heavy style, which makes sense with the drop down to the Championship, but Martin’s times at both MK Dons and Swansea have featured streaky runs of both excellent and terrible form.

There’s also no track record of taking teams up, which should be the bare minimum expectation next year, so it’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out.

Which players have shone and struggled the most?

Romeo Lavia has been head and shoulders above any of our players. He has been outstanding since his first kick of a ball for us, when he made his Premier League debut against Tottenham on the opening day.

His professionalism, consistency and performance levels have been freakishly good for a 19-year-old in his first senior campaign, especially during such a dismal season for the team.

Carlos Alcaraz deserves a mention too – he’s been really good since joining in January from Racing Club and has been the only player demonstrating some composure in front of goal.

As for the second part of this question, take your pick!

Even the more reliable heads like James Ward-Prowse and Kyle Walker-Peters have underwhelmed this season, but they’ve been far from the worst.

Adam Armstrong has been painfully unimpressive, while the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi, Ibrahima Diallo and plenty of others have routinely turned in abject performances.

Gavin Bazunu remains a promising goalkeeper, but he’s had a torrid time this season.

The alternative, however, in Alex McCarthy, has proven to be equally poor, if not worse, since he returned to the starting lineup.

Do you think Romeo Lavia would be a good potential signing for Liverpool?

I really do. I think Lavia would be a good signing for near enough every club in the world – he is that good.

He has excelled in such difficult circumstances this season and has all the tools to be an elite midfielder within a few seasons if he makes the right move.

Lavia is so intelligent and well-rounded already that I wouldn’t have any concerns about him slotting seamlessly into a club like Liverpool’s midfield.

We will likely only get around £40 million for him this summer because of our relegation, but I do truly believe that anything less than about £70 million is a bargain in today’s day and age.

He’s only 19 and the sky is the limit.

Do you think Saints will bounce back straight away?

It’s so hard to say without knowing what the summer business will look like.

My gut instinct is that we won’t come straight back up because the decision-makers at the club have proven throughout this season that they cannot be trusted – every major call has been wrong.

The expectations should be that we will, at the very least, finish in the top six, but it’s going to be a brutally challenging campaign.

We will be a completely unknown quantity – I’d be as unsurprised to see us win the Championship as I would be to see us finish about 14th.

As for Liverpool, how do you assess their campaign?

Incredibly bizarre! You’ve looked unplayable at times and rather shambolic at others.

I think the inconsistency demonstrated throughout the campaign was bound to hold you back from qualifying for the Champions League, but there have still been positive signs to carry forward to next season.

It goes without saying that this hasn’t been a successful season for Liverpool, as such, but I don’t think there’s any real need to be concerned as long as things are freshened up in the summer.

Do you think the Reds will be ‘back’ next season?

I think Liverpool will be back in the top four next season, but I think a title race might just be out of reach.

Man City will only get stronger and Man United will be well-equipped to compete again if their takeover does go through.

Liverpool will benefit from the likes of Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez having half a season and a season of Premier League minutes under their belts respectively, but the midfield rebuild has to be executed well.

Looking ahead to Sunday, where are the key battles?

I don’t expect us to pose any threat whatsoever to Liverpool, really.

Alcaraz’s runs in behind from deep might give your centre-backs something to consider but it shouldn’t be anything that causes too much of a problem.

We’ve conceded nearly 70 goals this season in the Premier League, so therein lies the weakness that Liverpool can and will exploit.

Our defence is a car crash and our goalkeeper is a hologram – I’m fully expecting Roberto Firmino to sign off in style!

Finally, what’s your prediction?

It’s the absolute embodiment of a dead rubber on Sunday, but I’ve got no doubt that we will embarrass ourselves with our 26th league defeat of the season.

Liverpool will want to finish the season on a high note and shouldn’t have a problem in doing so.

I will go for Southampton 0-3 Liverpool.

Also.. 

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah makes emotional statement after Reds “failed” in EUFA Champions League chase

Salah has scored 19 Premier League goals this season with one game to go

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said he was “devastated” that the club missed out on a place in next season’s Champions League, adding “there is absolutely no excuse for that”.

Salah posted his comments on social media shortly after Liverpool’s failure to finish in the top four was confirmed by Manchester United beating Chelsea.

Liverpool finish fifth and will play in the Europa League next season.
“We let you [fans] and ourselves down,” said Egypt international Salah, 30.

Liverpool won seven of their last eight games with a late aim for fourth, but ultimately failed to recover from inconsistent form for much of the season leading up to that run. United needed just one point at home to Chelsea in the penultimate game of the season to secure their Champions League place and join champions Manchester City, runners-up Arsenal and Newcastle United as a contingent. England in Europe’s top competition next season.

“We had everything we needed to reach the Champions League next year and we failed,” said Salah, who was part of the Liverpool squad that won the 2018/19 tournament and the Champions League final. last year against Real Madrid lost.
“We are Liverpool and qualifying for the competition is the bare minimum.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s too early for an encouraging or optimistic message.”

Liverpool have had a promising start to the season by beating Manchester City in the Community Shield, but have only won two of their first eight Premier League games.

Away from home, they struggled in the top flight before their recent surge of form. Three of their eight away defeats have come against relegated sides Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Bournemouth, while at home in the league they have only been beaten by Leeds United. Liverpool have been clearly beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 this season, while losing both the FA Cup and League Cup in the fourth round to Brighton and Manchester City respectively.

Salah, who signed a lucrative new three-year contract with Liverpool last summer, has scored 19 league goals this season, including six in 14 games before the 2022 World Cup and 13 in 23 games after the tournament.