Have Klopp’s Liverpool run out of steam?

In recent seasons, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have become known as the “mentality monsters” because of their ability to compete on four fronts for trophies and their will to win. However, after more dropping points in the Premier League and continuing their stuttering start to the new season, it is legitimate to ask whether they have run out of steam.

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Their 3–3 draw with Brighton at Anfield on Saturday, means that they are only ninth in the table, with only 11 points, ten behind the leaders Arsenal, albeit with a game in hand. Of equal concern will be the fact that they went behind again in the match – the fifth time already they have conceded the first goal in a league game,

It is to their credit that stirring fightbacks have allowed them to rescue most of those situations, but Klopp cannot rely on his side to do that every week.

And allied with their faltering start in the Champions League – a heavy defeat in Napoli, and then a late winner to beat Ajax – then there are storm clouds gathering over Merseyside.

There have even been speculation that Klopp’s position as manager could come under pressure, although given the transformative effect he has had at Anfield that seems scarcely credible.

Fans may point to the loss of Sadio Mané in the summer, and the fact that the man brought into replace him, Darwin Núñez, has yet to hit the ground running, with an early red card picked up against Crystal Palace not helping his acclimatisation process. Injuries have also played their part, although their current malaise cannot just be down to that.

There is an argument to be made that the problems are as much to do with the mind as the body. For several seasons they have been relentless, battling with Manchester City for the league title to the last day of the campaign.

They also reached three Cup finals last season, winning both the FA Cup and League Cups after penalty shoot-outs against Chelsea, whilst one defensive lapse cost them the chance to add the Champions League trophy to the Anfield trophy cabinet.

The problem is that it becomes very difficult to motivate oneself to perform at that level week after week, and the mental stress can have a physical toll as well, and may be the risk why the injuries are racking up. They also do not have the financial resources to compete in the transfer market with City.

Already there are fears that they are too adrift of their great rivals already in the Premier League title race, even at this early stage of the season.

Klopp might want to admit it, but his side may have to lower their ambitions this season, settle for a top four finish and more success in the cup competitions. The time can be used for a collective recharging of mental batteries, and reported links to Jude Bellingham suggest than an injection of fresh blood into the ranks will help as well.