Liverpool’s dismal 2022/2023 season did suffice a 5th-place finish and missing out on the coveted UEFA Champions League. For the first time in almost a decade, the red half of Merseyside will make do with the UEFA Europa League. However, that’s not to say that Europe’s second-tier competition isn’t worth the hype.
In the 2015/2016 season, the Reds enjoyed a remarkable Europa League run under Jürgen Klopp. Against Borussia Dortmund, the Reds dispatched the German’s former team to go on and set up a mouth-watering clash with Sevilla in the final. However, Liverpool ended up on the losing end to emerge as the competition’s runners-up.
Since then, Liverpool FC has been a mainstay in the Champions League, twice finishing runners-up and clinching the title in 2019. It’s essential to point out that the Champions League brings prestige and more revenue, among other incentives, to any football club. So, Liverpool will try to get back to the fold, but that’s easier said than done.
The Premier League is becoming more competitive, meaning qualifying for the Champions League is no longer a stroll in the park. Luckily, the Europa League winners automatically qualify for next season’s Champions League. Jürgen Klopp now has a huge dilemma. Prioritize the Premier League and try to finish as high as possible. Or take the Europa route and win the tournament to book a place in UEFA’s top-tier competition.
Not surprisingly, the odds at Bodog and other notable sportsbooks have deemed Liverpool favorites to win the 2023/2024 Europa League title. Some bookmakers have even taken a giant leap to install Liverpool at 4/1 for willing punters, and it’s easy to see why.
On paper, the Merseyside fit have arguably one of the best squads in the competition. Allison Becker, the Reds number one, is one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe’s top five leagues. Virgil Van Dijk is still regarded as one of the best center-backs, with fellow defenders Robertson, Konate, and Alexander-Arnold regarded as top-class defenders.
Scoring goals shouldn’t be problematic with Mo Salah, Diogo Jota, Núñez, Gakpo, and Luis Díaz in the forward ranks. In contrast, the midfield area seems to be Klopp’s nagging point. The Red’s midfield has witnessed an unprecedented overhaul. Henderson, Fabinho, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Milner have left the club.
Meanwhile, the Kop have brought Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, and Endo to build on the Red’s resurgence in the latter part of the 2022/2023 campaign. Wataru Endo is the only recognized defensive midfielder, and Klopp hopes to add more to make the team more competitive.
So, will Liverpool deem the Europa League a worthy outing, considering it’s the only trophy Klopp hasn’t won competitively with the Reds? Or will it serve as a try-out for young and fringe players, especially in the group stages?
Both scenarios are realistic, as Arsenal and Manchester United immensely shuffled their squads in the group stages in the previous season. It would be awkward if first-team players like Mohammed Salah and Van Dijk were actively playing in the Europa League before the knockout matches.
Klopp will welcome the exciting challenge of squad selection, but he can’t dismiss that winning the Europa League is a viable opportunity for Champions League qualification. One season away from UEFA’s top-tier competition is a small dent, but two in a row wouldn’t augur nicely with fans.
The Kopites love European nights at Anfield, and older fans will reminisce that the best moments were in the UEFA Cup, which is the modern-day Europa League. You’ll have to go back to 2001 to find Liverpool’s last UEFA Cup triumph, coincidentally with a midfielder named McAllister in their ranks. With so much at stake, the Reds will do well to take the bull by its horns and go all out in the Europa League.
