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Liverpool 2022/23 season review: Trophyless Reds left to rue dreadful campaign

Liverpool 2022/23 season review

After coming painfully close to a famous quadruple last term, Liverpool came into the season with plenty of optimism and were expected to challenge for silverware.

However, It is hard to describe their campaign as anything other than a disappointment, with the Reds falling way off expectations and ending a dreadful 2022/23 trophyless.

Not only did Liverpool fail to have another crack at winning the Premier League title, they also suffered Champions League qualification heartache after failing to finish in the top four for the first time in six years.

Here’s Liverpool’s 2022/23 season review.

Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah

There was only ever going to be one contender, especially after notching 30 goals and setting up another 16 across all competitions.

Mohamed Salah was Liverpool’s bright spark in a season marked by gloom and despair, with the electrifying winger lighting up Anfield with several moments of absolute brilliance.

The Egyptian was once again the best player for the Reds, but his heroics were not enough to salvage their disappointing campaign.

Performance of the season

There were several highlights of Liverpool’s campaign, but it is hard to look past the sheer dominance of the 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Anfield in March.


They were 1-0 up at half-time, but whatever Klopp said to his players is anyone’s guess as they emerged from the dressing room a different proposition.

The Reds may have been disappointing all season but registering their biggest-ever victory over Man United in front of the Kop is destined to be more than a mere footnote in Anfield folklore.

Disappointment of the season

Liverpool failed to mount another serious title challenge, but finishing outside the top four is an added slap on the cheek.

Klopp seemed to have got his side pulling in the same direction late in the season, but it was too little too late as their omission from the Champions League was confirmed after the penultimate game.

While Klopp seems to have accepted the challenge of playing in the Europa League next season, Salah’s emotional message to the fans suggests the dressing room is still reeling from the disappointment of missing out on a place in Europe’s most prestigious tournament.

What do the stats say?

Needlessly dropping points throughout the early parts of the season rendered Liverpool’s late rally inconsequential to their top-four hopes as they finished fifth in the Premier League standings.

The Reds enjoyed several high-scoring fixtures during the campaign, and their 75-goal haul (1.97 goals per match) constitutes the joint-highest of any side outside the top four.

However, considering they created 103 big chances (3.3 per match) but spurned an average of 2.1 per game, their form in front of goal tells the tale of a side guilty of wastefulness in the final third – a problem that needs fixing ahead of next season.

Liverpool’s flaky defence was penetrated on several occasions, evidenced by their 47 goals conceded – their worst defensive record since Klopp’s debut campaign (50).

Alisson was a commanding influence in the backline, with the Brazilian making 114 saves (3.0 per game) that resulted in 14 clean sheets, but even he could do nothing about his side conceding an average of 1.29 goals per match.

Verdict

It is hard to view the season positively, especially after last term’s exploits. But Liverpool have finished on a high after embarking on an impressive unbeaten run in their final 11 games (W7, D4).

From injury problems to a lack of reinforcements – several reasons have been tossed around regarding why their campaign panned out the way it did. But ultimately, their on-field performances were not up to scratch.

Klopp and must show remarkable character and quality to regroup and come back stronger next season. 

The signs are there that the good times will return. However, they will need a more robust squad to bolster their hopes of challenging for the biggest trophies available.

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