Liverpool have got off to a flying start this season. Could this be the season that they end the 28-year wait and lift the Premier League trophy?
Of course not.
If there’s one thing that Liverpool can guarantee it’s that they will find a way to blow it in the most heart-breaking manner imaginable.
So, to prepare Reds fans for the pain to come, we’re rounding up some fresh new ways that Liverpool can come unstuck on the road to glory.
BRING LORIS KARIUS BACK FROM BESIKTAS
As the season starts to reach crunch time, Jurgen Klopp realises he’s just a little short of goalkeeping cover. Fortunately he remembers that Liverpool have a talented young German ‘keeper out on loan who he can call back just in case.
Karius comes in and impresses in training. Klopp feels like he’s seen him somewhere before but can’t quite place him.
Ahead of the crucial final day clash with Wolves, Alisson is incapacitated. Klopp knows immediately what he must do and thrusts the gloves at Karius.
After all, what’s the worst that can happen?
GET DISTRACTED BY THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
It’s hard to balance the demands of multiple competitions and as Liverpool continue their progress in the Champions League it starts to take over the club’s focus.
With a semi-final date with Real Madrid looming large, Liverpool decide to arrive at the Bernabeu early and get acclimatised.
The squad does some sight-seeing and the mood is positive until Klopp checks his phone and realises they’ve clean forgotten they are playing Huddersfield.
The Reds scramble to get back in time, booking tickets on an Easyjet flight but the flight is delayed and they have to play most of the first half with no men. They lose 3-1.
BECOME TOO RELAXED
Klopp is famed for his laid-back attitude, but as the season progresses he starts to become too casual.
Training starts at 11am, finishes at 1pm and is conducted entirely in hammocks. Instead of tactics sessions, players are gathered to watch The Big Lebowski and smoke joints.
Players turn up to 3pm kick-offs bang on 3pm and walk straight on to the pitch. The water bottles on the sidelines are filled with artisan Belgian Trappist beer.
By Christmas, Klopp is conducting training sessions over Skype while sitting on a beach in the Caribbean.
Initially results remain decent and Klopp’s men seem to benefit from the lack of pressure, but after a while defensive slip-ups followed by bouts of hysterical laughter start to cost the Reds dear.
LET IT SLIP
March 30th, a battling Liverpool dramatically secure a 3-2 win over Tottenham and take control of the title race.
As the players celebrate, Jordan Henderson calls them into an improvised huddle. Before anyone can stop him he yells “We do not let this slip, we go again!”
April 13th, Liverpool host Chelsea in a game everyone knows will be the title decider. A seemingly innocuous pass comes to Henderson in first-half injury time. He controls it perfectly, sighs of relief all around, then suddenly his shorts fall down, he attempts to pull them up, trips on the ball and leaves Alvaro Morata through on goal.
After six attempts are saved, Morata eventually bundles the ball home. Chelsea win the game and the title.
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