Liverpool, quantified by their quite brilliant season last term, starts preparing for the new one to quench the thirst for the trophies they failed to win. The silverware above all they will be hoping for is undoubtedly the Premier League, missed by just a point to title rivals Manchester City in the past campaign. The Reds had a key departure from their vibrant team but equally brought quality from the transfer window to strengthen up even more. In all, Liverpool are more than hopeful to reach more remarkable heights in the 2022/23 season.
Last Season Review
Jurgen Klopp’s men chased an unprecedented quadruple last time out but fell two trophies short to complete the feat never done before by an English team. In the Premier League, they ended on 92 points just a point off Manchester City on top in a dramatic end to the 2021/22 season on the final day. Liverpool at one time fell behind in the race but after a 1-0 loss to Leicester in late December of 2021, they didn’t suffer any losses. It got them close to winning the title but City grabbed a stunning late winner from 2-0 down against Aston Villa maintaining their one-point lead on top of the table to retain the silverware. The Reds won their game against Wolves having trailed but it wasn’t enough. Liverpool did manage to do a domestic cup double, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup win over Chelsea in both, before losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Overall, it was an impressive show from the Reds as they twice became record runners-up to the same winners in the Premier League but had fewer losses to show.
Summer Signings and Contract Renewals
The dealings in the summer window were reminiscent of the project the club is thriving on. First of all, they had to manage the departure of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich. The Senegalese star departed in the essence of having a new chapter in his career after scoring 120 goals in 269 appearances for Liverpool. It came from the purchase of exciting prospect Darwin Nunez in a record-breaking deal of $102m for the club from Benfica. The talent from Uruguay netted 26 goals in 28 matches in the Portuguese league last season becoming a wanted man in the transfer market. Nunez’s transfer once again showed the brilliant negotiations Liverpool have done over the years. The Reds added more impressive signings to the squad with talented attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho joining from Fulham having agreed deal back in January. 18-year-old Calvin Ramsey also joined from Aberdeen to give competition to Trent Alexander Arnold for a place at right-back. Alongside Mane, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi also cut ties with Liverpool this summer leading the Japanese to move to AS Monaco while Origi signed with AC Milan.
There were a handful of significant contract renewals too aside from the arrival of new faces. Liverpool’s talisman Mohammed Salah finally agreed to a new three-year contract with the club closing down any possibility of leaving next year. The Egyptian star topped the goals and assists chart, 23 and 13 respectively, in the Premier League last season assuring his class again and convincing the officials to move away from their reluctance to give high wage-contracts to players at 30 years of age. Securing Salah’s service for more seasons ahead was crucial to get more of his scoring numbers. Center-back Joe Gomez also penned a mega extension of five years keeping the 25-year-old until the summer of 2027. Veteran midfielder James Milner also extended for a year at the club. Decisions on renewals for other players like Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain will be made as their contract expires in 2023.
Pre-season Results & Fixtures
4-0 vs Manchester United (L)
2-0 vs Crystal Palace (W)
5-0 vs RB Leipzig (W)
1-0 vs RB Salzburg (L)
3-1 vs Manchester City – Community Shield (W)
Vs Strasbourg (1st August 2022)
Liverpool entered the preseason camp late after an intense season ending with the Champions League final and players also involved in the Nations League tournament in June. The 4-0 loss to Manchester United in Bangkok showed their unpreparedness but the Reds found their true rhythm in wins over Crystal Palace and 5-0 thrashing of Leipzig with Darwin Nunez scoring four in that game. Injuries has been an issue with Alisson Becker and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain both forced out with new arrival Calvin Ramsey. They are all expected to be back ahead of the season. The Reds then succumbed to a 1-0 loss on their trip to Austria facing RB Salzburg but tasted glory heading back to England. Liverpool got the best of Manchester City in the Community Shield, beating them 3-1 by a Mohammed Salah masterclass and Nunez getting on the scoresheet again. It was their first Shield win after 16 years. Before the season begins, the Reds will face Ligue 1 side Strasbourg at Anfield to wrap up their pre-season just a day after their celebration at the King Power Stadium.
2022/23 Season Liverpool Fixtures
The 2022/23 season for Liverpool in the Premier League kicks off next month on Saturday, 6th August 2022 with a trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham. For the fourth successive season, they will start a season playing against a promoted team. Their first game at home in Anfield will be against Patrick Vieria’s Crystal Palace. The very next weekend Liverpool lock horns with eternal rivals Manchester United, whom they have beaten 4-0 in both the fixtures last season, at Old Trafford. Everton ignites the season’s first Merseyside derby on 3rd September before Chelsea invites the Reds at Stamford Bridge at the end of that month. An intense month of October awaits them with Arsenal, title challengers Manchester City and West Ham United to face successively in a matter of 12 days. Fortunes for this season could seal for Liverpool before or while facing Southampton at St Mary’s next year on 28th May.
06/08/2022 - Fulham v Liverpool
15/08/2022 - Liverpool v Crystal Palace
22/08/2022 - Manchester United v Liverpool
27/08/2022 - Liverpool v A.F.C. Bournemouth
31/08/2022 - Liverpool v Newcastle United
03/09/2022 - Everton v Liverpool
10/09/2022 - Liverpool v Wolverhampton
18/09/2022 - Chelsea v Liverpool
01/10/2022 - Liverpool v Brighton
08/10/2022 - Arsenal v Liverpool
15/10/2022 - Liverpool v Manchester City
19/10/2022 - Liverpool v West Ham United
22/10/2022 - Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
05/11/2022 - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
12/11/2022 - Liverpool v Southampton
26/12/2022 - Aston Villa v Liverpool
31/12/2022 - Liverpool v Leicester City
02/01/2023 - Brentford v Liverpool
14/01/2023 - Brighton v Liverpool
21/01/2023 - Liverpool v Chelsea
04/02/2023 - Wolverhampton v Liverpool
11/02/2023 - Liverpool v Everton
18/02/2023 - Newcastle United v Liverpool
25/02/2023 - Crystal Palace v Liverpool
04/03/2023 - Liverpool v Manchester United
11/03/2023 - A.F.C. Bournemouth v Liverpool
18/03/2023 - Liverpool v Fulham
01/04/2023 - Manchester City v Liverpool
08/04/2023 - Liverpool v Arsenal
15/04/2023 - Leeds United v Liverpool
22/04/2023 - Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
25/04/2023 - West Ham United v Liverpool
29/04/2023 - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
06/05/2023 - Liverpool v Brentford
13/05/2023 - Leicester City v Liverpool
20/05/2023 - Liverpool v Aston Villa
28/05/2023 - Southampton v Liverpool
(key games are in bold)
How Liverpool could set up for the 2022/23 season?
Much has been debated about Liverpool’s formation now that a prominent goal-scorer like Darwin Nunez, other than Salah, is in the ranks. Many tipped the Reds to switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation from the holy grail of 4-3-3, ingrained into Klopp’s system, with Nunez at the top to form a multiple forward-line. Luis Diaz and Mohammed Salah will flank the side with two class full-backs namely Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold joining for the offensives as well. Youngster Fabio Carvalho could take up the number ten role to bring creativity lifting off the pressure on the midfielders comprising of Thiago, Fabinho or Jordan Henderson to not take extra workload other than their presumed roles. So far, there is no such indication from Klopp to do so in the pre-season and unluckily the classic 4-3-3 will change in the upcoming campaign.
2022/23 Season Prediction
It will be an extremely challenging season for Liverpool like most other teams due to the World Cup occurring in November amidst a packed schedule of the 2022/23 calendar. The signings will surely help the Reds keep their intense football going with the squad now blessed with additional depth in every position. Liverpool will try to fulfil their quadrupole dream this time around with Premier League being the focal point of it but with Manchester City pulling off huge deals in the market, Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips, the title race could go down to the wire again. It won’t be unusual to see Liverpool finishing runners-up with little difference from the top and not surprising either to tip City for their second ever Premier League title.
