With 10 minutes left, they began to spin, a small wave of chairs rattling after each misplaced pass or missed chance to return to a tie that seemed already lost.
Someone in the front row yelled at them to stay and support the team. A gentleman came up the stairs to the hall, muttering that he had better go than say what he thought. If the only good thing about a Champions League knockout home game is that you can get ahead of the traffic, then something has gone wrong.
Outside Anfield, the mood was grim. From time to time, faces caught the attention of acquaintances and offered a look that expressed a hundred thoughts, the median of which was: “Well, we’ve learned our lesson, haven’t we?” There was no singing on Walton Broke Road, no intoxicating beer hugs between friends, only a celebratory procession into town. From time to time someone shouted: “Liverpool, Liverpool”, as if reminding himself why the gloom was worth it. This does not work.
After the final whistle, Jurgen Klopp stood motionless for several seconds, stunned by what had just happened. Nine months earlier, his team had struggled with Real Madrid and lost a fortune. Luck was the only thing outside the realm of guilt now. Liverpool were careless and then brainless, foolishly caught throwing caution to the wind. It was like the end of a cycle.
But what does the end of the loop really mean, other than the common expression “it looks a bit broken”? This is not an old team – the average age this season is only six months older than Manchester United, which we are told is on the rise.
Some would say a change of ownership is necessary, but John Henry insists that Liverpool have never been available for direct sale, only for reinvestment. Klopp remains a savior in the minds of fans, not part of the problem. If the people leaving Anfield are to be believed, then Liverpool need a new vote. And it’s much harder to define.
Thoughts inevitably turn to Jude Bellingham, who is arguably Liverpool’s most important player to date and has never played for Liverpool.
Jordan Henderson is 32 years old and looked like a tired firefighter against Real Madrid, late for any emergencies and a bit of a nuisance when he gets there. Fabinho has had his worst season in England since his first. Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita are unreliable due to health and fitness issues respectively. James Milner is 37 years old and should be gone. Stefan Baicetic has a youthful puppy energy, but that on its own cannot propel a supposedly elite midfield forward. I forgot about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain until I was looking for him, and you probably did too. Oh my god, there’s also Arthur Melo.
Bellingham will be what Liverpool sorely lack: a fully multi-functional midfielder. He is not a defensive quarterback, but he has the energy to emulate Henderson’s role to advantage. He may not be able to pick a pass like Thiago, but he will be available more often. Liverpool have not had a high-scoring midfielder since Steven Gerrard; Bellingham already has 10 wins in all competitions this season. He is the link between a forward trio that will reduce the workload on the full-backs (and thus avoid being missed high up the field) and Liverpool will not compromise on midfield stability.
But that’s not the point here. Signing Bellingham will not only be his impact on the pitch, but also a show of strength that Liverpool need right now. I am usually strongly against this kind of pretentiousness, because it is rarely healthy or useful. The general rule is that if your team only needs one player to manage its future, it’s most likely a reflection that something else has gone wrong. Bellingham is technically brilliant and mature for his age, but this age is only 19 years old. To expect—and even need—to carry a racquet on his back at his next age is too much to ask.
But Liverpool Do to make this statement. They will buy the player that all the bad guys want – when was the last time this happened instead of Liverpool just sneaking up on potential? FSG invested money as a token of their loyalty in response to the murmurs of some fans. It can be assumed that Liverpool were quite stable in the transfer market, which was an attractive offer after their last season.
And that would justify the delay. Last summer, the Champions League finalists decided not to buy a new first-team midfielder because they were waiting for Mr. Wright. Land that player next year and what seems like an empty year right now could get a new badge as a necessary transition to revitalize the entire club. But Bellingham was unable to do so because things have moved so fast since then, due in part to a lack of investment in midfield, and one could only conclude that Liverpool have taken a spectacular move in the wrong direction in the short to medium term, which could have repercussions. for their future. Then no pressure.