The Liverpool Late Goals Problem has been so slowly consuming their season as a season of good things spoilt has become the bane of their season and the home of late regrets instead of fortresses. What used to make Liverpool feared, that they could complete so well, has actually become their weakness, and they can find the solutions at least to the period.
At the start of the campaign there was a flow of optimism through Kirkby. The walls of the training ground had images of dramatic later winners as a reminder of faith, persistence and forward impetus. The late opener from Federico Chiesa when basing Bournemouth, the stoppage-time goal by Mohamed Salah and the thunderous free-kick of Dominik Szoboszlai were a symbol of a team that did not fade. Those were, however the only flashes of success that were breaking through the crust, and which would grow larger as the season wore on.
To begin with, the warning information appeared in the language one understood. This was seen in the other games when the control was lost in the late stages, and Virgil van Dijk called Liverpool as being sloppy. That word repeated several times not only spoken by the captain but by teammates who felt that it was the same pattern. The concentration declined beyond the one hour mark, discipline declined in the tactics as well as in the energy levels during matches when Liverpool should have been battling comfortably.
Nevertheless, it is caused by more than just concentration. Arne Slot came into office with one speech in mind: to modernize or revamp physical output in Liverpool without causing burnouts among the players. The length of training sessions increased, but were less vigorous, work loads were customised and the pressuring nature of Jurgen Klopp was scaled back. The strategy proved to be flawless last season, resulting in a title with less than five injuries.
This season however the situation has changed. The tactical approach of Liverpool was to first play numbers forward in order to destroy low blocks and this created open space during transition. The opponents adapted fast and they made use of direct play, long balls and counter-attacks. The relentless physical attributes of the premier league revealed the weakness of Liverpool and they had to undergo rapid successive sprints and duels which became draining towards the end of matches.
The margin of error diminished as the number of injuries grew. The bench was no longer a source of good game-changers and exhaustion became a physical manifestation instead of being something hypothetical. Liverpool was not a team that had the legs and the composure to seal matches in crucial times. Manchester City had the capacity to bring dangerous attack elements at the end, but Slot was often restrained, with little choice than to make a reactive replacement instead of a proactive one.
Reaching its most destructive stage, the Liverpool late goals problem occurred at the point where outcomes started to reverse. Liverpool was once the artisans of injury-time drama but instead they are the architecture a bad side of history. The team has already yielded more injury time victorsies in this season than any other team in a single season in the premier league. Games which ended up in a celebration are now ending up in disbelief.
Alisson, one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the modern day, has not been spared by the trend. Mistakes that previously would have been singled out situations are now make-or-buy situations and this adds to the story that Liverpool is incapable of holding on. According to Van Dijk himself, every late goal is different, yet the result is always identical lost points.
The damage is determined to be harsh statistically. No other side has lost more points through goals scored in the last ten minutes than Liverpool. The mere loss of points would put them squarely on the top 4 conversation. On the contrary, they are outside it, powerless and pursuing; not making their own.
Lastly, there is the psychological change which is arguably the most worrisome. The previous setback made Slot admit that he is almost getting used to conceding late goals. Such a confession highlights the difficulty in the future. There comes the seasons of good or bad habits, and the habit of Liverpool has turned against it.
The irony is stark. None of the clubs that have ever existed in the history of the Premier League has been riding on the winners at the late hours as Liverpool does. But now, the very minutes are treachery on them. Photos on the walls of the training ground are no longer growing, they got replaced by frustration and questions without answers.
Most problematic aspects of the Liverpool late goals issue are not necessarily a matter of fitness, tactics or injuries. The crash of the three is the collision which is multiplied by hunches and history. It must be soon, scored, however, till Liverpool in case they are to save their season, it must be today, since in this league the moment is everything.
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