Why is Liverpool considered a shadow of their Premier League champion selves this season?

Liverpool's dramatic decline from their Premier League champion form stems from multiple factors that have converged this season. Firstly, key injuries to pivotal players like Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have decimated their defensive stability, forcing midfielders into makeshift defensive roles and disrupting their high-pressing system. Secondly, the condensed fixture schedule has exposed their lack of squad depth, leading to player fatigue and inconsistent performances. Tactically, opponents have adapted by sitting deeper and counter-attacking against their high defensive line, exploiting spaces left behind. Additionally, individual form dips from stars like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané at critical moments have compounded their struggles. The psychological impact of losing their aura of invincibility has also made them vulnerable in tight matches. This perfect storm of physical, tactical, and mental challenges has resulted in their 15 defeats so far, a stark contrast to their dominant 2019-20 campaign where they lost only 3 league games.

📖 Read the full article: PSG v Liverpool: Back champions to inflict Reds' 16th defeat of the season