Liverpool look to reset after Klopp's midfield is gutted

Juergen Klopp finds himself in familiar territory again, having to drag Liverpool back to the Premier League's top four after a humbling 2022-23 campaign and seeing his midfield gutted in the close season.

Liverpool missed out on the top four after a poor start last season, still reeling from the hazy hangover of an exhausting 63-game 2021-22 campaign.

After six seasons in the Champions League, where Klopp's side reached the final three times and won the trophy in 2019, Liverpool now find themselves back in the Europa League.

Premier League clubs sacked 14 managers last season but Klopp, currently the longest-serving coach at a single club in England's top flight, was never in danger of losing his job.

He is cherished by the Kop and is virtually untouchable as fans pointed fingers at the club's hierarchy for their lack of transfer business.

Liverpool did not inject fresh blood into an ageing midfield while injuries in the forward line scuppered a title challenge.

This year Saudi Arabian clubs have forced Liverpool's hand, with the cash-rich league tearing up the Anfield club's transition plans by luring away their two midfield stalwarts.

MIDFIELD HOLE

Liverpool have to fill a gaping hole in midfield with skipper Jordan Henderson and Fabinho moving to the Saudi Pro League while James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left for free with nothing more to offer.

"The influence of Saudi Arabia is massive at the moment... It's already influential for us but we will have to learn to deal with it. Time will show," Klopp said in pre-season.

The transfer window began well with the early captures of the dependable Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as they got pre-season minutes under Klopp's system.

Mac Allister's calm