"They would not be human" - Neil Jones on Liverpool's start to the new season

Journalist Neil Jones has given his opinion on Liverpool's start to the 2022-23 campaign.

The Reds won the League Cup and FA Cup last season. However, Liverpool narrowly missed out on the Premier League title and Champions League.

Manchester City finished one point ahead of the Reds in the Premier League table. Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League final.

But, the Reds have had a poor start to the 2022-23 Premier League season. They are yet to win a game.

Jones believes that Liverpool could be slightly 'hungover' as a result of missing out on two major pieces of silverware last campaign.

"Klopp and his players would dismiss the idea, one suspects, but you have to wonder how much last season, with its highs and lows, its relentless intensity and its heartbreaking conclusion, took out of Liverpool," he told Goal, as quoted by Anfield Watch's Twitter account.

"It would be understandable, inevitable even, if there was some kind of hangover. When you dig so deep for so long - 63 games, all of them vital and on a knife-edge - it can’t be easy to simply dust yourself off and go again, however driven, fit or professional you are.

"Last season ended in pain for the Reds. They missed out on the two prizes they wanted more than any other, and while a post-season trophy parade in the city may have lifted spirits, they would not be human if they didn’t wonder whether 2021-22 was as good as it gets.

"They only dropped 22 points in the whole of last season, but they’ve let seven slip already this time around and can ill-afford to lose more ground in the coming weeks.

"The flip side is that if any side has shown itself capable of dragging themselves out of a hole and putting a run together in recent years, it’s Liverpool."

Anfield Watch Verdict

Jones could be correct. It would be fair to assume that last season would have taken a fair bit out of the players.

To miss out on the quadruple must have been heartbreaking for Klopp's team.

But, Liverpool need to put last season behind them and get back to their best. Otherwise, the 2022-23 campaign will be over in a  heartbeat.