The return to the Champions League can be considered a successful season for Liverpool.
This is Jan Molby’s verdict. Reds legend Jurgen Klopp could ‘be written in the stars’ as he believes he has won the only major trophy he has missed.
Liverpool had a poor 2022/23 season by their lofty standards. They finished fifth in the Premier League and failed to challenge for any silverware.
As a result, Reds were relegated from Europe’s elite rivals to the Europa League before Jurgen Klopp made significant changes to his squad last summer.
Roberto Firmino, James Minor, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita left after their respective contracts expired, before Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were sold to Saudi Arabia outfit Al Etihad and Al Etihad.
Also acquired were Alexis McAllister, Dominic Soboslay, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenbirch.
Liverpool started the 2023/2024 season on an encouraging note. Some are calling for a win after being held to a 1-1 draw against Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking to LiverpoolWorld at the launch of the Ultimate LFC Experience, Molby believes the Reds’ main target is to finish in the top four. But Klopp’s side remain favorites to win the Europa League, the only trophy to elude the German during his Anfield career.
In the final in Dublin, Molby believes Liverpool can go all the way. “I think we need to be in the top four again,” he said. “As much as you worry when you play in the Champions League, if you don’t – and we’re not playing this year – it’s not the same.
It’s great that you won the Europa League. That means Jurgen won all the trophies.“But above all, as a club like Liverpool, we have to play in the Champions League. I would suggest top four is our only aim at the moment and everything else is a bonus. I plan to return to the Europa League.
Isn’t it almost written for the stars? “People understand that this is not a complete reconstruction, but the beginning of a new road. We will put everything together and people will be very happy.
Last time, the first hurdle was promotion to the Champions League.”People don’t want to talk about it, but the financial aspect is important. “This has to be the first step because the Champions League doesn’t have the finances to compete with the Europa League.”
Liverpool’s start to the season has been full of surprises due to changes in the squad. Of course, the departures of Henderson and Fabinho were not expected until the Saudi Arabian Pro League hit, a major disruptor in the summer transfer window.
Both exits leave the Reds in a tough position to fill the No. 6 spot. Mac Allister was primarily deployed in that position, but despite being a natural attacking midfielder, Endo took time to adapt.
Molby believes that the final piece of the puzzle provides absolute defensive options for the engine compartment. He continued: “Overall I was a bit surprised. It was a curveball that was going to catch some of our players.
Saudi Arabia decided to bring some of our midfielders, what will you do? They thought of several players and came up with very good results in terms of price and performance of the players.“I think they might need another midfielder to complete the puzzle.
As always, I’m still on the lookout for the three best midfielders in terms of combination and balance that I’d like to send to our nearest rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.
I think we will be [Reel 6]. “Alexis was given that role and he’s a number six who can handle the pressure, but I don’t think he did his best.”
