Liverpool’s new year bringing problems prior to Chelsea fixture

The new year is anything but happy so far for Liverpool FC.

2022 is here, bringing new optimism worldwide, except for Liverpool FC supporters and members. Unfortunately, many issues are going on with the club at the most inopportune time. More specifically, the Reds travel to Stamford Bridge tomorrow to face Chelsea in one of the most pivotal matches of the season. Within the past 24 hours, the following events have occurred.

COVID-19 is once again rearing its ugly head for Liverpool.

Despite the club just regaining players like Virgil van Dijk back from COVID-19, the Reds will now be missing their manager, Jürgen Klopp, for the foreseeable future.

In his absence, assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders will assume the team’s responsibilities for tomorrow’s match against Chelsea. In addition, three first-teamers have also tested positive, but their identities have not yet been revealed. Not to also forget that Thiago Alcantara and Takumi Minamino will miss the match due to injury. Ultimately, the team that the world witnesses tomorrow may be unlike any other Liverpool has fielded in the EPL this season. Speaking of the Premier League, LFC missed out on yet another much-needed break on Saturday morning.

Sunday’s match versus Chelsea is a crossroads, no matter how you look at it.

Manchester City’s table lead grows by each of their outings, and hope for anyone below them is starting to dwindle when they pull off last-minute heroics like this against Arsenal on Saturday morning.

They have a twelve-point lead over Liverpool, one point behind CFC in the EPL table. Realistically, the winner of tomorrow’s match will have a straighter path to title hopes, while the loser will be left looking for answers. The Reds’ have shown resiliency all season long, and they will need it tomorrow more than ever.