Football Manager stories: Five years of Matthijs de Ligt at Liverpool

Football Manager stories: Can Matthijs de Ligt transform Liverpool into domestic titans?

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 13: Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Ajax and Real Madrid at Johan Cruyff Arena on February 13, 2019 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /

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Season four

All hail Matthijs! Matthijs is king! This is the season de Ligt really started to come into his own, four years after arriving at Liverpool from Ajax. The defender was the best player in the squad and started 34 Premier League games, but couldn’t haul them to domestic triumpth.

It was another nearly campaign for Klopp, as the side finished 3rd – miles behind Manchester United, who won the league with 99 points. I tell you, FM really loves United because they have stormed through the last four years.

Remarkably de Ligt didn’t win any individual awards from the Premier League, as Leon Bailey swooped for young player of the year while Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof were named as the two central defenders in the players’ team of the year.

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Again, Woodburn continued his development and scored 12 goals in 12 starts, but van Dijk had his worse Reds campaign yet and only played 23 league games.

A little reminder that De Ligt is still just 22, but now he’s wanted by PSG and the Reds could have a battle on their hands to keep him. I have a bad feeling about this…

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