Jeff Stelling has spoken about how Michael Edwards is being ‘clearly missed’ by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool amid their current struggles in the Premier League, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (04/02/23 at 12:45 pm).
The Sky Sports presenter added that ‘there is a theory that a lot of the backroom staff have gone’ and how Liverpool have basically ‘ignored’ their issues in the middle of the park.
On Saturday, Klopp watched his players produce yet another disastrous performance on the road, this time a 3-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Wolves.
What is behind the club’s issues? This just isn’t a case of a few injuries hurting the team, but problems all around the shop.
Some would point towards a lack of investment and pro-active nature in the transfer market and the glaring problems in the middle of the park.
Others think Michael Edwards, who was highly credited for a number of transfers the club made, no longer being at the club following his exit in the summer of 2022.
“There is a theory that a lot of backroom staff have gone,” said Stelling. “Michael Edwards, who was their transfer guru, he’s clearly missed.
“But how has the club basically ignored the fact that their midfield is old and jaded, with all due respect?
“Henderson 32. Milner 37. Fabinho 29. But, with all due respect, he is looking older than that on the pitch. Thiago 32 in April. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is injury-prone.”
KLOPP’S BIGGEST TEST
When the German was at Dortmund, he faced similar issues deep into his reign. The club ended up booting him out and they regretted that call, in the end.
Given what Klopp has done for Liverpool, their first title in 30 years. First European Cup in nearly two decades. Won every domestic trophy, then there’s no chance anyone in the Anfield boardroom sacks the man in the dugout.
Instead, eyes will turn to those higher up and how they will help Klopp re-build a team that should have been re-built over the last few years, instead, they have stood still and are now going backwards.
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