Liverpool in the 2010s: Revisit the club’s highs and lows

Over the past ten years, you’d be hard pushed to find a club that’s been on a journey as topsy-turvy Liverpool FC. Here, Peter Watton, from match betting specialists OddsMonkey, takes a look back at some of the Red’s highs and lows in the 2010s.

For fans of Liverpool football club, the last decade has been the most turbulent in the club’s history. We’ve gone from being a club on the brink financially, being held hostage by warring American owners, to being crowned the best team in Europe, all within the space of ten years.

While there has certainly been heartbreak and euphoria in equal measure, I don’t think any supporter would want to change a thing in retrospect. After all, the events over the past ten years have led to the club being set up for the most sustained period of success since the 1980s if everything goes to plan in the next few years.

To celebrate the emergence of Liverpool as a footballing powerhouse once more, I’d like to take a look back at the 2010s, the decade where the Reds rediscovered their mojo.

2010: Fenway Sports Group take control of Liverpool

At the start of the decade, Liverpool were jointly owned by George Gillet and Tom Hicks, American businessmen who started out as friends but ended up enemies as they drove the club to the brink of financial ruin. Then, in what is now one of the most important moments in the club’s recent history, the High Court granted permission for creditors to sell the club. This ended up in the bid of John. W. Henry and his Fenway Sports Group, who, after a shaky start, have been catalysts for success.

2012: The sacking of Kenny Dalglish

They say you should never go back, and that definitely should have been the case for Kenny Dalglish when he became Liverpool’s manager for the second time in 2012. Being a club icon from his playing days and a successful six-year managerial spell between 1985–1991, the stage was set for Dalglish to lead Liverpool into a brave new era.

But, despite a promising start and a League Cup win, the Scot could only lead the Reds to 8th in the league, their worst finish since 1994. His dismissal at the end of the season was a sad moment for a Liverpool legend, but also a tough lesson for the club’s owners that they should make decisions with their heads rather than their hearts in the future.

2014: Steven Gerrard’s slip

Picture the scene: Liverpool are top of the league with three games left and their destiny is in their own hands. They need to draw or win against Chelsea to keep this going. After a hard-won win against Man City in the previous match, captain Steven Gerrard gathered the players in a huddle and told them “we will not let this slip” — the scene is set for an epic showdown.

Everything is going to plan. It’s 0-0 with minutes to half-time. Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho passes the ball routinely to Gerrard, who is under indifferent pressure from Chelsea’s Demba Ba. But something goes wrong: Steven Gerrard misses the ball and falls over. As Ba races through to score the opening goal, the look on the captain’s face says it all — he let it slip.

The match ended 2-0 to Chelsea and the Reds went on to squander their title chances. It’s a moment most fans still like to forget and one that left a single blemish on Gerrard’s otherwise distinguished career for the club. However, even though this is probably the lowest moment of the decade, much brighter times were just around the corner.

2015: The hiring of Jürgen Klopp

When Liverpool hired German manager Jürgen Klopp to replace Brendan Rogers, it caused the kind of buzz the club hadn’t experienced in a while. Here was a manager admired for his stylish attacking football and his likeable, thoughtful persona, and, for Liverpool, it was a match made in heaven.

Though the first three years saw only steady improvement, with a winning record that was not dissimilar from his predecessor, Klopp was slowly refining his gegenpressing game plan and building a quality squad of players. And, after a scintillating run of form in Europe, Liverpool made it to the Champion’s League final in 2018, only to lose 3-1 to Real Madrid. Even though this was painful, many fans saw a bright future laden with trophies ahead, though a little more heartbreak was necessary first.

2019: Champions of Europe

Just months after Champion’s League disappointment, Liverpool’s European form finally translated to the league and they caught fire. With a solid defence, hardworking midfield, and the irresistible attack of Salah, Mané, and Firmini, the club was in title-winning form.

Unfortunately, despite picking up 97 points and losing just once all season, they were bested by Pep Guardiola’s perfect Man City side, who somehow finished on 98 points. While, again, Reds fans were crushed, there wasn’t the sense of loss that there was in 2014. The team had given it everything and were beaten by a side that were very much their equal.

The pain of the final league match was short-lived, however, as Liverpool’s European form had seen them book a place in the Champion’s League final against Tottenham. Thankfully, Liverpool thrived in their unfamiliar role as favourites, and won 2-0 to become European Champions for the first time since 2005. To top the decade off, they also won the Club World Championship in December 2019.

When COVID-19 ended play in March, Liverpool were runaway leaders and on course to win their first-ever Premier League title. Though it seems Liverpool are never due to any success without going through some kind of hardship first, they will surely be crowned champions soon.

And, if things go to plan and normality is restored, there’s no reason Klopp and co. can’t establish a dynasty for success well into the roaring 20s.