Liverpool are missing fans and form

Liverpool are missing fans and form.

After giving this some serious thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Reds are missing the interaction, reactions, and support of fans. Both home and away.

Liverpool are what I would describe as a romantic club characterized by, and or suggestive of, an idealized view of reality. Ajax and Bayern are also in this category of football club.

They are not some slick glitzy corporate empire, fielding a football team. We know who these clubs are: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, and PSG just to name the most prominent.

But Liverpool are a special entity, thus the ‘this means more’ epithet. Liverpool, since I began watching them and following as a fan in the mid 70’s, have always taken immense energy from the crowd in the stands. Liverpool have always fed on this kinetic energy.

Whether at home at Anfield, or even on the road, where they feed off the animus and often belligerence of opponents supporters. Liverpool love to play to a crowd. Always have.

Just think back and remember a night in Istanbul in 2005. Down 3-0 in the Champions League final against AC Milan. Do you believe the Reds would have engineered such a miraculous 2nd half comeback if the stands would have been empty?

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Can you see the Reds coming back at Anfield last spring against Barca without fans in those stands? I seriously doubt it.

Since the restart on June 19th, with empty stands, Klopp’s lads have managed to score 10 goals while conceding six. They have kept three clean sheets, and been shut out twice. This would only be the third time this campaign that Liverpool were held scoreless. Think Watford.

They have taken 11 of a possible 18 points. All within less than a month. You will need to go back to the 2017-18 season to find our Reds dropping points at such a rate.

Several pundits have attributed this drop in form to the ‘hangover’ from winning the title. I would posit that while this may be part of the malaise which has struck just now, the underlying factor which has had the greatest effect on the lads in Klopp’s side is the lack of fans and an audience.

But it is also true that this inconsistency was apparent after they lost to Watford on the road on 29, February. I’ve said before that their decline in form started there and progressed through the Atletico tie at Anfield.

Then the three month layoff came. And these young men had to sleep on that loss and their drop in form until the restart. The draw at Everton did nothing to restore their confidence.

The soundly, manhandled thrashing at the feet of Manchester City further eroded this confidence. And they haven’t been able to draw on the raw energy from the stands to keep their intensity levels on the high they were on last fall.

Let’s face it folks, this isn’t the same squad, since that loss at Watford. Without fans in the stands, it is highly unlikely Liverpool will suddenly find their form in these final three remaining fixtures.

The Reds aren’t playing for records now, they are playing for pride.