The next few weeks will be crucial for Liverpool. Until Jurgen Klopp leaves at the end of the season, every game will be a different case. A last game against a certain team, a last chance to beat someone at home (in the case of Brentford this weekend) or, most importantly, a chance to win silverware and climb the table. As always, there’s a lot more going on. Liverpool will soon face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
This is a repeat of the 2022 performance where Caoimhin Kelleher emerged as the hero in the shootout and Klopp’s absence from the side means there is still plenty of work to do. I have. For now, Liverpool fans can focus on making the most of Klopp’s remaining time at Anfield as the countdown continues until Klopp can take time away from the game. But for club directors and the FSG hierarchy, big decisions and plans can start to take shape. Everyone is watching Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
Here are three things that could happen in a perfect scenario for Liverpool over the next few weeks. Let’s start with the injury situation. Klopp will hope Mohamed Salah returns as soon as possible. Trent Alexander-Arnold is another player who will be hoping to be out for a long time due to recent setbacks.)Even though Liverpool were bereft of attacking talent during the AFCON and plagued with injuries afterwards, the Egyptian striker will always be missed to some extent.
In an ideal world, Salah would return in time to face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final.Klopp is likely to provide an update on Salah’s progress on Friday ahead of this weekend’s game against Brentford in west London. The Liverpool manager previously suggested Salah could return after this game as Luton Town visit the Reds between Brentford and Chelsea.Alexander-Arnold picked up an injury at half-time against Burnley and Dominic Szoboszlai was also ruled out. Having those two back would make a big difference.Liverpool won the 2024 Carabao Cup, while Manchester City dropped a point.
It’s often said that a lot goes a long way when you win your first trophy of the season and that’s exactly what Liverpool are hoping for less than two weeks from Wembley. Against Chelsea, Klopp’s side will be looking to repeat their Premier League victory at Anfield at the end of last month.All of Liverpool’s remaining fixtures will be completed in seven days. The final day of the Premier League season – when Wolves return to Anfield – is Sunday, May 19. The Europa League will take place on Wednesday 22 May and the FA Cup final will take place on Saturday 25 May.
It could be a week before Klopp quits.Manchester City face a tough fixture ahead of them (Pep Guardiola’s side face Manchester United, Liverpool, Brighton, Arsenal and Aston Villa), although it is expected to be a three-way clash after Liverpool allowed Arsenal to re-enter at the Emirates Stadium). By the end of February, Liverpool and Manchester City will once again be level with their previous fixtures, with the Reds hosting the hosts at Anfield on March 10.It would make sense for Liverpool to appoint a new manager after appointing a new sporting director following the departure of Jörg Schumatt at the end of January.
It would be good to hear some news about who the new sporting director will be before the end of the season.The identity of the new sporting director could provide a clue as to who will succeed Klopp, but it looks like Alonso will be the frontrunner either way. As Liverpool fans continue to watch Bayer Leverkusen play, the former Manchester United midfielder could continue to impress. Although he hasn’t won the Bundesliga and wouldn’t be the first manager since Klopp to win the league with a team other than Bayern Munich, his chances of a move to Anfield are already high.
