Liverpool 2021-22 Premier League Preview
Will the Reds challenge again?
Liverpool reached dizzy heights in the 2019-20 season, winning their first ever Premier League title at a canter. Unfortunately for Jurgen Klopp and his men, they failed to replicate those standards last year, finishing a whopping 17 points behind champions Manchester City.
Klopp is set to chop and change his team over the summer in the hope of bridging the gap on Man City. Popular faces will leave Anfield in the coming weeks and months, while one or two superstars could make their way to Merseyside. Liverpool could be ones to watch out for in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign.
Premier League Bets at Paddy Power
Table of Contents
- 1 2020-21 Review: Reds well off the pace
- 2 2021-22 Fixtures: Liverpool travel to Norfolk on opening weekend
- 3 Liverpool Transfer News: Who will join Konate at Anfield?
- 4 Who Are Liverpool’s Biggest Challengers: City to be a force yet again?
- 5 Manchester City Preview: Citizens to retain their title?
- 6 Manchester United Preview: Can Ole’s boys finish runners-up again?
- 7 Chelsea Preview: Will the Blues be City’s main title rivals?
- 8 Liverpool players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season: Another standout season for Salah?
- 9 Our Liverpool Predictions: Another top-four finish
2020-21 Review: Reds well off the pace
Liverpool made a solid enough start to their 2020-21 season, while the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Man City were sluggish out of the gates. The Reds picked up successive wins over Leeds United, Chelsea and Arsenal in their opening three.
On matchday four, though, Liverpool were stunned by Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Reds’ defensive frailties were on full show as the Merseyside outfit crashed to a shock 7-2 defeat, which was arguably the biggest upset of the Premier League season. They recovered okay, however, winning six and drawing six of their following 12 in the league.
Liverpool walloped Crystal Palace 7-0 in December to make sure of Premier League top spot at Christmas. However, the start of 2021 saw the Reds go on a rapid decline down the table. Liverpool began the New Year with a 1-0 loss to Southampton.
Shortly after the defeat at St Mary’s, Liverpool’s incredible unbeaten home record came to an abrupt end. Sean Dyche’s Burnley became the first team to win at Anfield in the league since Crystal Palace left with maximum points in April 2017. It was the start of a six-game losing run on home soil, with defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion, Man City, Everton, Chelsea and Fulham following.
Liverpool looked nailed on to miss out on UEFA Champions League football altogether after slipping down to eighth at one point, but the Reds rallied in the latter stages of the campaign and finished as one of the form teams. After that poor defeat to Fulham, Liverpool ended their Premier League season with a run of eight wins and two draws from their final ten to finish in third place on 69 points.
2021-22 Fixtures: Liverpool travel to Norfolk on opening weekend
Liverpool start to the 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a trip to new boys Norwich City. The Canaries had another excellent season in the EFL Championship under Daniel Farke and will provide stiff opposition for the Reds. Nevertheless, Klopp will be looking for all three points at Carrow Road.
After playing Norwich, Liverpool have two home games. Their home campaign starts against Burnley, who ended their 68-game unbeaten home league record last term. The second of those two home matches will see the Reds take on potential title rivals Chelsea.
Liverpool play Man City at Anfield at the start of October, while they travel to Old Trafford to face rivals Man United later in the month. The first Merseyside derby of the season will take place at Goodison Park in November, with the reverse fixture at Anfield pencilled in for April. They end their league season with a game against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in late May.
Liverpool Key Facts
- Liverpool won eight and drew two of their last ten league games last term
- The Reds have been Premier League winners just once (2019-20 season)
- Liverpool have been European champions six times
- The Merseysiders picked up 99 points in the 2019-20 campaign
Liverpool Transfer News: Who will join Konate at Anfield?
Liverpool have been liked with several top superstars this summer. After Georginio Wijnaldum opted to leave for Paris Saint-Germain, a huge void in the middle of the park will need to be filled. Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans has been mentioned, while Jadon Sancho and Florian Neuhaus are other potential candidates.
Liverpool have already made one notable signing this summer. Centre-back Ibrahima Konate has arrived from German side RB Leipzig in a £36m deal. The 22-year-old Frenchman made 21 appearances for Leipzig last term and was an unused substitute against Liverpool in both legs of their Champions League tie. Konate will not be the only name to sign on the dotted line before the season kicks off in August.
Who Are Liverpool’s Biggest Challengers: City to be a force yet again?
The race for the Premier League title promises to be as captivating as ever this season. Man City were the top dogs in England once again last term, and Pep Guardiola’s men will rightly start the new season as the clear favourites. Man United will be hoping to build under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while Chelsea could be a real hit with Thomas Tuchel at the helm. Could Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal also make a comeback this term?
Manchester City Preview: Citizens to retain their title?
Man City are likely to be as strong as ever this season. The prolific Sergio Aguero may have moved on, but City can cause damage anywhere on the pitch with arguably the best squad in the league. The Citizens have been heavily linked with England captain Harry Kane. If they secure his signature, Pep’s boys will be a force to be reckoned with.
Before a ball has been kicked, Man City are the odds-on favourites to win the 2021-22 Premier League. Paddy Power are offering just 4/6 for the Manchester giants to retain their crown. Guardiola’s City will certainly be the team to beat this term.
Manchester United Preview: Can Ole’s boys finish runners-up again?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has slowly but surely improved Man United since inheriting the managerial reigns during the 2018-19 campaign. Ole has taken the Red Devils into the Champions League two seasons in a row. Last year, United finished runners-up to City, going the entire campaign unbeaten away from home.
Man United have a supremely talented squad, which could get stronger in the summer months. Persuading Edison Cavani to sign a one-year extension back in May could be their best bit of business yet. They have one of the best midfields in the league in Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, and they could close the gap on their neighbours this season.
Chelsea Preview: Will the Blues be City’s main title rivals?
Tuchel done a sterling job after taking over from the sacked Frank Lampard back in January. The former Borussia Dortmund & PSG manager took the Blues to the FA Cup final and secured a place in the top four. At the end of the campaign, Chelsea pulled off a real shock by beating Man City in the 2021 Champions League final in Porto.
Chelsea made several world-class signings last summer, who have all now had a good year to settle in at Stamford Bridge. Going into the new season as European champions will certainly stand them in good stead, also. With one or two shrewd signings before the season gets underway, Chelsea could be genuine title contenders this year.
Liverpool players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season: Another standout season for Salah?
Gini Wijnaldum may have moved on, but Liverpool still have several superstars in their squad. None more so than Mohamed Salah, who pushed Kane close in the race for the Golden Boot last season. The Egyptian King has been a revelation since arriving at Anfield, and judging by his performances last season, the striker is showing no signs of letting up. Salah will be one to watch out for this year as he looks to win back the Golden Boot.
Although far from his brilliant best, Sadio Mane still had a productive season for Liverpool last time around. The Senegal international, who will turn 30 next April, had a strong finish, netting the Reds’ two goals in the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on the final day. He also scored for his country against Zambia and Cape Verde Islands in June. Mane could be back to his sizzling best this term.
Our Liverpool Predictions: Another top-four finish
Along with Man City, Chelsea, Man United and possibly one or two others, Liverpool will believe they are genuine title contenders. They would have learnt a lot from last season’s failed title defence, but if they can get back to those dizzy heights they set from 2018 to 2020, nobody can rule them out.
Man City are still the top dogs in England and are the team to beat after winning a fifth Premier League crown, while Chelsea could be a tough nut to crack with Tuchel at the helm. However, if Liverpool can start this season the way that they finished the last, the Reds could be worth keeping a serious eye on this term.
Paddy Power are offering the tempting odds of 5/1 for Klopp’s boys to win the Premier League title for a second time in three seasons, while you can get 3/10 for the Merseysiders to finish in the top four once again.
