Jurgen Klopp is considered one of the greatest Liverpool managers of all time. After ending the Merseyside club’s 14-year wait for a Champions League crown, he led the club to its first league title in 30 years. He has created a team befitting of a place in the debate of the greatest ever teams in Premier League history. Despite all his success at Anfield, the club are experiencing a difficult start to this campaign, which has led to people talking about the “7th season syndrome.”
Jurgen Klopp: Patterns From the Past and the 7th Season Syndrome
Another example of Jurgen Klopp 7th season syndrome?
Erik ten Hag might’ve been speaking the truth… pic.twitter.com/dhS3aBBiHx
— Man Utd Fan Account (@diligentdalot) September 7, 2022
The History of the 7th Season Syndrome
Klopp’s legacy may be under threat if patterns at his previous club are to be looked at. He achieved great success at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, bringing the former into the Bundesliga, finishing 11th in their first season and then consolidating their status as a top-flight club. However, in his penultimate season, the club were relegated. He stayed on but was unable to recreate a team capable of past success, which led to him resigning at the end of his 7th season.
With Dortmund, the German coach enjoyed a lot of success, winning back-to-back league titles in 2011 and 2012. In addition, the club reached the Champions League final a year later, narrowly losing out to Bayern Munich in the first-ever all-German Champions League final.
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In that same season, they finished a whopping 25 points behind runaway leaders Bayern. This is even more shocking, considering they were the current Bundesliga champions.
Klopp struggled to adapt and replace star departures such as Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski, which seems to be the very challenge that faces the German coach now at Liverpool. Having created one of the best teams ever seen in the Premier League, now he has to adapt to keep the Anfield giants challenging for trophies.
Warning Signs
The departures of Mane and Gini Wijnaldum in recent seasons have left gaping holes, but Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz look capable replacements. Many Liverpool players are now in their 30s, and the challenge for the manager will be to replace these players. Trent Alexander-Arnold has shown a defensive vulnerability that can leave Liverpool fans feeling nervous. At the same time, there is no competition for him in the squad.
Liverpool's WORST start to a season under Jurgen Klopp after seven games in all competitions. 🔴📉 pic.twitter.com/qwKKScCMen
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 8, 2022
The squad rejuvenation has to start now. With just 2 points out of their opening 3 games in the Premier League, the warning signs had started to appear for Liverpool. A 9-0 mauling of Bournemouth and a last-gasp 2-1 win over Newcastle since then have added fresh impetus to their campaign.
Arthur Melo arrived on deadline day from Juventus on loan to add depth to the Liverpool squad. Klopp has been here before and knows all about the struggles of recreating a title-winning squad. The question and the worry for Liverpool fans will now be – will the German manager get it right this time and defeat the 7th season syndrome?
