In the highly contested 2013-14 season, many point to a lack January signings and squad depth as the reason for Liverpool missing out to Manchester City for the league title by two points.
Last season, it was a lack of January signings and losing Sadio Mane to the African Cup of Nations which led to Liverpool dropping out of the title race and scrapping it out for fourth until the final day of the season.
This season, while we currently jostle for a Champions League spot, we lose Philippe Coutinho, one of our most influential players and only real creative force in midfield.
The lack of transfer activity in those previous seasons knocked us out of the title race. This season, a lack of signings could knock us out of the top four altogether.
Without the magician pulling the strings in midfield, there is a clear inability to break down teams that choose to sit deep against us. We do not have that player to make something out of nothing and there’s a clear lack of options from the bench to change a game when plan A is not planning out.
Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings, for all of their hard work and well-meanin,g are not the players you look at and think, “they are going to save us here”.
The discontent from fans, pundits and journalists alike all point to an overwhelming bubbling bile and ill-feeling which will not nestle us into the top four but fizzle out into another season of what might have been.
Jurgen Klopp states he is happy with his squad. That he feels the quality is there to see us out until the end of the season, but my thinking, like the thinking of many others is: why take the chance?
If we have the opportunity to bring in a player who can make difference now, whether he be Klopp’s first choice or not, surely that is something we should be looking to do?
A new signing can lift not only the fans but the players too. Looking at our nearest rivals, Manchester United have signed Alexis Sanchez. Arsenal have signed Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Manchester City, despite their commanding lead, are bringing players in and despite Tottenham Hotspur got Lucas Moura.
A chastening home defeat to West Brom probably ensures that this will be another trophyless season since the League Cup triumph of 2012. Despite the form of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, it is currently very difficult to wear your rose tinted glasses. A season which offered so much, looks to be ending like so many others. Trophyless, lacking ambition and lacking any silverware.
Six years and counting.
