Barcelona legend Carles Puyol asked the question many fans are thinking after Liverpool’s 4-1 demolition at the hands of Manchester City on Sunday.
The former centre-back tweeted a poll and asked what has been more damaging to the Reds’ Premier League title defence – Virgil van Dijk’s injury or the lack of fans at Anfield.
Liverpool are badly missing their talisman at the back, and have also seen Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Fabinho suffer injuries.
Van Dijk won’t return this season, and Liverpool were forced to buy Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies in the January window, bringing the two to Anfield on the final day of the window after it was confirmed the Dutchman would be out for the rest of the campaign.
Liverpool instead have had to play Jordan Henderson and Fabinho at the back, leaving them suspect to opposition attacks.
The injuries have also restricted the attacking freedom of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
They are expected to bring Henderson back into midfield before long and give Kabak – who is on loan from Schalke – a chance at the back.
But the other issue they currently have is one they won’t be able to fix for a long time.
Liverpool are clearly struggling with the lack of fans at Anfield, and are missing the atmosphere from the Kop.
They had fans back for a brief time earlier in the season as Covid-19 restrictions were lifted slightly.
Liverpool had 2,000 fans at Anfield against Tottenham earlier in the campaign, and Klopp insisted the lack of supporters was definitely impacting the side.
He said: “We really enjoy playing here, it is our ground, our home and everything feels like home even when then the people aren’t here – which is absolutely bull****.”
Puyol’s poll, which was attached to the tweet, found that fans believe Van Dijk’s absence is more damaging than the lack of fans, which doesn’t bode well fro the remainder of the campaign.
