In the Premier League era, there have been six winners, none of them having been Liverpool. So why is that the case?
If you told someone in 1990, when Liverpool won their last domestic title, that Leicester and Blackburn would have won more titles than them, and Manchester United would win 13 to your zeor over the next 27 years, they wouldn’t have believed you. These now simply serve as facts.
Why can’t Liverpool get the monkey off their back?
Let’s look at what is now the infamous 2013-14 season, which was the Reds’ best season to date.
Liverpool didn’t do too much wrong. Their 101 goals in a season was only two goals off the record of 103 that Chelsea set in 2009-10. From February to April, the Reds recorded 11 straight wins. Although their defence wasn’t as tight as it could have been, their attack was brilliant with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge regularly finding the back of the net.
All seemed to be going to script until ‘the slip’. Everyone in football knows about ‘the slip’ – if you are a Red, it equates to pain, if you aren’t a Red, it equates to humour.
However, given the status Steven Gerrard holds in the sport, a bit of empathy can still be found for such a great player, though that empathy for a non-Liverpool supporter is generally short lived. In some cases, it doesn’t exist at all.
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Besides 2013-14, not too much else on the domestic front has been a cause of joy for Liverpool supporters around the world.
Manchester United and Chelsea have both made winning part of their culture. United’s recent dry run is unlikely to be tolerated. They will have seen what has happened down the highway at Liverpool, and not want to replicate that. Chelsea’s style of ‘win or we will sack you’ has seen a big turnover in managers, but also fed their success.
Why can’t Liverpool win?
It’s not from a lack of trying. They have been persistent with managers, refusing to sack them before a fair go.
When it didn’t work, they didn’t sit on their hands. Roy Hodgson only lasted six months and ending that early was the right move. Kenny Dalglish is a club legend but his stint at the start of this decade was the length it should have been. You could argue they have managed their managers well.
So this is why… It’s the players.
Liverpool have never really bought well enough. When United built a team around Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, they would complement it with more quality. Liverpool built a team around Gerrard and surrounded him with players that were good, not great.
How many great players do Liverpool currently have on their books? Philippe Coutinho perhaps? Anyone else?
There are no Ian Rushs or Kenny Dalglishs running out in red. It’s time to find a few, or produce them.
When will Liverpool win their next domestic title? The question has been asked for 27 years. Millions of fans around the world will be hoping it doesn’t go on for a 28th.
dan
Guest
plain and simple: the league changed from a English football to European football. when you put the entire euro at the center - you can't win with the English player. so what went wrong? money, money is in the root of every successful business, from banks to farms - and as the saying goes: you need money to make money, Liverpool still hope that the football will win in a money world, and that is basically wrong, it won't make you successful in the new era, the era of money.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
A rare happening is another word for luck. Unlike Fuss, I'm not going to try and spin some cliche like, 'Ranieri found a system that wins with the players he had.' Yes, awesome bit of analysis that. The genius in hindsight king. The man who has only just realised Ronaldo left ManU 8 years ago.
Fadida
Guest
I remember Kenny Jackett and Nigel Callaghan
Gavin R
Guest
Why wouldn't you try and analyse Leicester? There is a lot to learn from their dream campaign. Im sure with unlimited access to changerooms and training ground, you'd quickly realise why they were in the position they were. A lot of things went their way but you do need an element of good fortune. Some teams require more than others.
steve
Guest
Its more than money. Liverpool have spent the 4th highest amount since the inception of the PL. Their problem is a multitude of managers wasting it on average players who simply aren't good enough to begin with. Not to mention a series of managers who aren't good enough.
Brian
Guest
Not having a billionaire owner means you are really relying on success in the years Chelski. Man Sheiky and Man Utd underperform. Leiciester have done that. Arsenal won before the billionarie era as did Blackburn. of course they have often not helped themselves - selling Xabi Alonso at his peak for peanuts, bringing in flop after flop - Ballotelli, Benteke, Robbie Keane and of course all time favourite Andy Carrol.
Nemesis
Guest
Nah. According to some, Leicester was just a one-off that happened 35 times over 9 months. ?
Albo
Guest
Rick, I think it is pretty simple to explain. Leicester had a year where they had tight group of handy players ( with a good goal scorer) who remained uninjured the whole season and maintained consistent performances , and this coincided with a very rare season where all of the traditional top 6 clubs had poor to inconsistent years all in that same season. A very rare happening but obviously not impossible.
Buddy
Guest
Fad - I just have a good memory for the names and faces of various eras that I have lived through. I'm fairly sure I visited Vicarage Road a few times and was "blinded by the light" as the ball was always being pumped high and long but it was effective and my apologies to John Barnes, Excellent at Watford and then even better at Liverpool who appeared to have the money to buy whoever they wanted in those days...just that times change I suppose. Otherwise Wanderers or Royal Engineers would still be winning titles!
Josh
Guest
Liverpool havnt won it because of their history. Liverpool as a club is obsessed with their history so much so that despite being outside the top 4 almost as much as inside, they still see themselves as an obviously top team, but its a claim that they know cannot be backed up by league position. So whilst the top teams look at most games in the premier league as equal, Liverpool look at the games against the top 4 and especially Man United as way more important. Liverpool have a great record against the teams that generally win the premier league because Liverpool care more about beating the top teams than the top teams care about beating Liverpool, Liverpool is an important game for the top teams but Liverpool game is the same as the Everton or Nottingham Forrest game pretty much. So Liverpool beat or play way better against the top teams then lose or draw against the teams in the middle of the league because they dont try as hard. You win the premier league by beating the teams in 5th-15th placem this is something that Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and more recently City have realised. Liverpool, because of their history, think that you win it by beating the top teams.
Lionheart
Guest
is it because of the Fenway group?
Beardan
Roar Guru
Cheers mate. Just finished a cricket article for the roar. Looking forward to the Aus vs Syria match tomorrow!
Square Nostrils
Guest
Trying to rationalise football and success or lack of is like the moons surface, full of potholes. Money of course as mentioned is vital, just look at Chelsea or Man City , two clubs who are financed by the mega rich. Could have been Newcastle, Tottenham,Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and a few other English clubs as regular European Champions League participants. Its not there's only so many mega rich willing to invest in Football. Prior to the EPL Liverpool were well ahead of ManU in trophies won, by my quick calculation 49 to 30, which included for Liverpool 18 first division titles and 4 European Cups(now UEFA champions league). Post EPL a big reversal 33 trophies to ManU as opposed to 6 for Liverpool. So spot the difference, well IMO its not just money just like Leicester was an enigma in terms of winning one title as a complete underdog, so the dice rolled ManU's way in terms of choice of a manager who understood (whether consciously or not )the new dynamics of the EPL era. Sir Alex read the cards better than any manager in that period(of course backed by big money) hence his longevity at the club and results in the trophy cabinet. Make no mistake anybody who has followed English football for a lifetime (and particularly a club that has hovered around the First and Second tier for most of its existence) never underestimates the impact the EPL made in changing the English Professional football landscape. Clubs like ManU, Liverpool sure were succesful in the pre EPL days, but there wasn't the gap you see today between the top clubs and the clubs like those mentioned above like Wolves etc. So Yes it is about money, but its also being able to adjust/adapt to the new era of the EPL and an increasingly powerful UEFA Champions League.
George K
Roar Pro
Spot on, Motivation alone I believe can win titles; and I don't mean the fruity 'believe and you can achieve anything' but rather players who actually want to give it their all can surpass their own personal objectives. Coutinho not being allowed to play during the transfer window suggests two things: 1) the board were pressuring him to sign a contract or something similar. 2) He was sulking. Regardless the fact of the matter is that current players at Liverpool - I believe at least - do not view the club as having a particularly high standard, players view it as a chance to develop and then move on. The sad reality is that the club does not having the sway to attract high quality players as it once did, perhaps with a name like Klop and the promise of champions league football this may change, netherless it will be a slow rebuilding stage until it does. I do however feel like 27 years is a bit too long for rebuilding...
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I wouldn’t say Ar$en@l are. They’ll be strong again in the next few years. Just need to get rid of Wenger. Who knows … we might get to see how good Barca are if the Catalonia gain independence: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11833/11065472/barcelona-in-the-premier-league-would-be-difficult-says-arsenal-boss-arsene-wenger
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I wouldn't say Arsenal are. They'll be strong again in the next few years. Just need to get rid of Wenger. Who knows ... we might get to see how good Barca are if the Catalonia gain independence: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11833/11065472/barcelona-in-the-premier-league-would-be-difficult-says-arsenal-boss-arsene-wenger
punter
Guest
Gunners again.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Isn't that the period when Elton John bankrolled them?
punter
Guest
Both Manchesters & Chelsea from the EPL are not 2nd tier to Barcelona. Liverpool is, as Fadida says, so are Spurs & Arsenal. Spurs have a great coach!!!
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Like I said to punter, the occasional Leicester will happen. Don't bother trying to explain it, nor analyse it.