Liverpool treble chase: 3 things Reds must get right
Liverpool want to win the Treble in 2023/24. One trophy is already in the bag and here’s what they must get right to secure the other two.
Liverpool saw their quadruple dreams end in their last fixture as Manchester United knocked them out of the FA Cup. But there's still the treble dream!
The Reds have already got one trophy, of course, as they won the Carabao Cup last month. That secured a trophy in Jurgen Klopp's final season, which was certainly a goal once he announced he would be stepping down later this year.
There are still two trophies on the table for Liverpool, though. The Premier League and UEFA Europa League are up for grabs and the club wants both. It would represent the best possible send-off for Klopp - as well as securing one of the best seasons in club history.
Here's what Liverpool must do in order to secure that treble.
Get everyone back playing
This is incredibly obvious and not entirely in Liverpool's hands. Despite that, it's the key to winning the treble.
The Reds have somehow fought all the injuries this season to remain competitive. It's actually remarkable that they're in the title charge despite half of the starting XI missing time in 2024.
But if they're to continue fighting properly on two fronts over the next two months, they've got to have everyone back. Not only will they lack the overall quality to win trophies without all the stars, but the squad will also be run too thin to compete.
Klopp needs to rotate going forward - and having the entire squad available is the only way to maintain the quality across competitions.
Learn from the Man United defeat
The defeat at Old Trafford was a real hit to the season. Not only did Liverpool lose to their rivals and not only did they lose from a strong position, but they were eliminated from a competition for the first time.
It doesn't necessarily need to be a blow, however. If Liverpool can learn from the defeat going forward, it can instead be a catapult for the run-in.
The big lesson to learn? Intensity. It fell apart for the Reds in the second half - when they should have put United away, they instead dropped the tempo and let them back in.
That can't happen again this season and maintaining their intensity is a must.
The Alexander-Arnold 'problem'
Liverpool need to get Trent Alexander-Arnold back into the side but that brings a 'problem'. Fortunately, it's a positive one - it just needs solving.
The Reds saw things turn around for them in 2023 once Alexander-Arnold started operating in midfield. We've seen him both drift there and play there across this season to great success, too.
But figuring out how often to use him there over the run-in is a huge one for Klopp. With Conor Bradley a true option there, he has the chance to start Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder in games far more often - but does he take that chance now? Or should Liverpool stick with him at right-back where he's more of a known quantity?
Getting this right will give the team the edge they need and it promises to be one of Klopp's biggest tactical decisions remaining as Liverpool manager. Maybe even the biggest.