Premature pessimism is the right of any football fanbase, but with only nine points from six matches and a seat currently outside the European places, Liverpool supporters’ pre-season concern is looking less unfounded.
In a Liverpool ECHO survey of nearly 4,500 readers, fans registered their concerns that Jurgen Klopp and co. will struggle this season - with the club's recent transfer business to blame. More than half of those polled - 53.9 per cent - believe a successful campaign is already beyond the Reds, with a huge 85.4% saying the club should have done more to strengthen in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool’s midfield is once again at the heart of discontent, with more than half of voters (51.2%) believing that the centre of the park serves as the Reds’ biggest weak point as they attempt to cut themselves a facsimile of the side that only months ago was on the verge of a sensational quadruple.
The defence is also a big concern with 38.5% of voters picking Klopp's back line as the most disappointing position this term, while just 10.3% are most worried about the attack - not surprising given only three teams have scored more Premier League goals than Liverpool's 15 this season.
Liverpool are already nine points off Arsenal in top spot (though the Reds have a game in hand), and some managers might begin to feel the heat of the crosshairs zeroing in. Yet, only 30.9% of voters felt that Klopp's position is in jeopardy if this form continues, while nearly half (44.4%) put the run of poor performances down to individuals.
Other reasons for the Reds' poor form included player fatigue (20.9%), injuries (18%) and tactics (16.7%), reinforcing fans' belief that Klopp is not to blame.
It is still early days, and a good run of form could redefine the season as Liverpool restart their campaign against Brighton at Anfield on Saturday.
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