The Reds were on the hunt for a famous quadruple last season but finished just a point behind reigning champions Manchester City last and fell just short in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. It just wasn’t to be but Jurgen Klopp’s side had done themselves proud taking it to the final two games of the year.
However, this season seems to be a different story for the Reds. They have picked up just nine points from their opening six league games and also lost their opening Champions League group stage game against Napoli in humiliating fashion. Liverpool have started slowly and the poor results have even prompted calls for a change of leadership from a few staunch critics.
Klopp’s side are on a bad run of form but the Reds were chasing an unprecedented quadruple just a few months ago. If it weren’t for a mythical City side under Pep Guardiola and the most successful club in European Cup history, Klopp would have delivered the greatest season in the club’s long and storied history; calls to show him the door are incredibly short-sighted. There is no coach better equipped to turn it around at Anfield than him, as he has shown since 2016, and it shows in the way he has developed the squad to this point.
Two young prospects benefitting under the German’s tutelage are Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho. The two youngsters have been shining lights in Liverpool’s team this season and will play a big part in seeing the team climb back to the top of the table.
The 19-year-old Elliott has had a bright start to the 2022/23 campaign. His standout performances in midfield have seen him earn eight appearances so far this term and he has continuously looked in good form despite his teammates failing to meet the standards they set last campaign. It’s true that the Reds are enduring a miserable injury crisis in midfield and whilst gambling sites have Liverpool as distant title contenders behind Manchester City, they are still 8/1 to win the title.
Their lacklustre start has seen a lot of pressure placed on the teenager’s shoulders but he has looked comfortable in his role and is showing no signs of crumbling under the weight of it. Hard to think that just 12 months ago this was a teenager who suffered a heartbreaking broken leg at Elland Road that threatened to derail his Premier League career before it had even started. Klopp clearly thinks a lot of the young talent and Liverpool's faith in Elliott was underlined by awarding him an improved five-year contract in the summer and, for the second pre-season in succession, he was among the Reds' most impressive performers during the warm-up programme.
His professionalism and character have shone through in his recovery from long-term injury. He has established himself as a mainstay in the starting lineup for now, dragging a struggling midfield forward in attack with some darting runs and constantly asking questions of opposing defenders both on and off the ball. His efforts were rewarded with a first Premier League goal in a 9-0 hammering of Bournemouth at Anfield and he is on course to add to that tally as the season goes on.
Accompanying him in the midfield this season is Carvalho who made a name for himself at Craven Cottage in the Championship as he helped Fulham win the second-tier title last season before moving to Anfield. During the campaign, Carvalho caught the eye of the Reds, as he scored ten goals and assisted eight more in his 36 league appearances.
He has already impressed in his short spell on Merseyside with two goals in his six Premier League appearances to date helping him become a regular in Klopp’s side. Carvalho also scored a dramatic 98th-minute winner in his side's much-needed 2-1 victory over Newcastle, smashing home from close range following a goalmouth scramble. It's unlikely Fabio Carvalho will have imagined his early days as a Liverpool player to have gone quite like they have so far.
Given the stature of the club he joined and the overall quality of a squad that has picked up 92 points or more in three of the last four Premier League campaigns, Carvalho would surely not have imagined to have been asked to try and help rectify so many unwanted situations this early into his spell at Anfield. Given his age and relative inexperience at this level, it seemed harsh to expect him to turn around three games already during what had been a disappointing start, but nonetheless, he has flourished up until this point.
Carvalho will hope to feature soon after making six appearances already this term, and he attracted some high-level praise. may have been thrown into the deep end at times already this term but he has evidently handled it well as he continues to mature under the Liverpool boss.
Liverpool’s push for a historic quadruple showed this is a team with the depth and talent to compete for silverware across every competition, but no matter how good a side is even being in the running for the quadruple takes luck and doing so again would have to be a goal set more in hope than expectation. The top priority will be the Premier League and securing a finish in the 90-point range will be critical if they are to go the distance this campaign.
Despite their shaky start this side is more than capable of achieving just that with other sides around them dropping points and not boasting as much squad depth. Remaining competitive in the Premier League, a quarterfinal showing in Europe or better with a decent cup run along the way are a high set of demands but one well within reason for this team.
In many ways, this squad is stronger than the one that started last season so nothing should be off the table especially if their young guns continue their run of top form.
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