While Liverpool’s late charge for Champions League qualification brought a gleam of hope to their supporters this season, it’s largely been a campaign to forget for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Too many dropped points at the hands of Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Leeds United and the like have cost the Reds dearly, and they now face a first season outside of Europe’s premier club competition since the 2016-17 season.
Still, there have been some players who have performed admirably, and whose contributions deserve recognition. Liverpool may have stuttered in the Premier League and lost their tag as favourites in the football odds, but these three players have still given it everything to maintain the high standards of previous campaigns.
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Mohamed Salah
This is the third successive season where Mohamed Salah has notched 30 goals or more for Liverpool in all competitions – a phenomenal achievement that warrants huge praise. The Egyptian is still the main man in Liverpool’s attack, and still brings that threat of goals no matter how isolated he appears or how out of form he looks in any given match.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Salah. A couple of missed penalties and a spell earlier in the season where it looked like he had lost his killer instinct led many to doubt the club’s decision to give him a bumper new contract last summer. But he has rediscovered his best form in the closing months of the season, spearheading Liverpool’s attempts to claw their way back into the top four.
With so much talk of the team being rebuilt this summer, Salah remains the key figure in Liverpool’s attack, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t expect another 30 goals or more in the 2023-24 campaign.
Alisson Becker
If not for Alisson Becker, it’s hard to know where Liverpool would be. The Brazilian stopper has proven him time and time again as one of the key difference makers in Klopp’s side, and his ability to read play and smother attacks is a major reason why things haven’t turned out worse for Liverpool this season.
Alisson is the best goalkeeper in the world when it comes to one-on-ones, and this has saved Liverpool’s bacon on countless times to their high defensive line. He has a commanding presence in goal that brings a sense of calm and composure, and even when he experiences an off day, he never takes the disappointment into the next match.
With Alisson in goal, there is always a chance that Liverpool can challenge for titles again next season, and they’ll be well fancied in the Paddy Power News football tips.
Cody Gakpo
It’s testament to the impact Cody Gakpo has made at Anfield that he is considered one of Liverpool’s players of the season despite only arriving in January. Klopp and co. were struggling to have that sense of fluidity up front earlier in the campaign due to injuries, but the signing of Gakpo has proven to be a masterstroke.
The Dutchman initially struggled when he first arrived, deployed out wide where he often cut a frustrated figure. However, since moving into the central striker position, he has been a revelation, linking play in a way reminiscent of Roberto Firmino’s best years at the club. With Firmino heading for pastures new this summer, Liverpool fans can rest assured that they have a perfect replacement for the years to come.