5 predictions for Liverpool’s 2021/22 season

Liverpool
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Making predictions for Liverpool’s 2021/22 season based on last season would be quite easy to do; Jurgen Klopp’s side will not be losing six home games in a row this season; Alisson Becker won’t be scoring a 95th-minute winner; and surely the Reds will not be beset by injuries, particularly at centre-back, as they were.

In truth, it was a minor miracle that the Merseysiders were even able to survive last season without any long-term damage done. By finishing third after an impressive end to the season of 10 games unbeaten, winning the final five, it ensured Champions League football remains at Anfield - and no big names departing.

This summer has been the re-set that was needed. A proper pre-season and fans back in the ground, plus the returns of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip. In a complete turnaround, Liverpool had eight centre backs in their initial pre-season training camp!

Liverpool FourFourTwo preview and prediction: How can Jurgen Klopp & Co rediscover their mojo?

We take our annual look at what we think might happen for the Reds in the season ahead…

Another 20-plus goal season for Salah

Strange but true: the only season Mo Salah hasn’t scored 20 or more goals for Liverpool was the year the Reds won the league title.

The Egyptian shows absolutely no signs of slowing down and he was one of the key reasons Liverpool are still in Europe’s elite competition, displaying his competitive desire to play a big part in the upturn in form at the end of last season.

He didn’t score at all in Liverpool’s pre-season, but he has six goals in the last four season’s opening games. So yeah, look out Norwich on Saturday…

FourFourTwo 2021/22 season preview and predictions

Jota to start more league games than Firmino

While Salah’s place in the Liverpool attack is entirely assured, the other two of the acclaimed front three suffered a drop off during the phantom season behind closed doors. Both Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino struggled for long spells of 2020/21, and Firmino in particular finds himself under pressure from Diogo Jota.

Had it not been for injury last winter, Jota may even have usurped Firmino as the Reds’ centre-forward already. The Portuguese has played mostly in the No.9 role in pre-season, which puts pressure on the Brazilian to find his form again.

Jota, though, will benefit from his versatility in also being able to play on the left in place of Mane.

Kaide Gordon to become Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer

What were you doing when you were 16 years old? Likely not benching a European Cup-goalscoring forward in a pre-season friendly as Kaide Gordon was when he started Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly on Monday night ahead of Divock Origi.

The winger, signed from Derby in January, was added to the Reds’ pre-season training camp and when others moved back to the academy he remained.

In order to become Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscoring - beating Ben Woodburn - he has to score before November 19, 2021.

So we’re backing him to do so in an early League Cup round… unless we can also count the Papa John’s Trophy?

18 different centre-back pairings won’t be used

In 1965/66, Liverpool used 14 players all season. Yes, just 14 (fourteen) all season. That’s four fewer than the number of centre-back combinations used in a single season last year.

The list of those who played at centre-back last season is: Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Ozan Kabak, Rhys Williams, Nat Phillips and Billy Koumetio.

Somehow Mr Utility James Milner never got the nod, and neither did January signing Ben Davies, who can at least say he has now finally played at Anfield after a late cameo in the Reds’ friendly vs. Osasuna.

This season will be different. Van Dijk is back and some expect him to start the opening game at Norwich. Matip will likely be alongside him for that.

Gomez is also back, but unlikely to be starting just yet. And new signing Ibrahima Konate means there are four proper centre-back options.

Nat Phillips is likely to be sold, Rhys Williams could remain as a fifth choice, but Davies should head out on loan.

What’s most important is that Fabinho and Henderson shouldn’t be required to deputise in the heart of defence.

Liverpool to embrace new ‘underdog’ status

With the spending of the other big three title contenders, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, Liverpool somewhat find themselves without much attention on them going into the new season.

For City, they simply have to win the league after spending £100m on Jack Grealish and likely an even bigger fee for Harry Kane.

Chelsea, in paying a similarly huge fee for a player they let go for less than £30m seven years ago, are also under pressure to deliver, with Romelu Lukaku seen as the final piece in their jigsaw up front.

And over at Old Trafford, having added Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, they need to win something under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer at last.

For Liverpool, the pressure is off. They have - at the time of writing - added only a backup centre-back in Konate. They are David competing against multiple Goliaths.

Being the underdog is something Klopp’s teams embrace and often thrive as.

Subscribe to FourFourTwo today! Guarantee the finest football stories and interviews dropping on your doorstep first every month.

NOW READ

ANALYSIS Liverpool: Why Gini Wijnaldum's departure makes no sense

FEATURE The best right-back in the world? How Trent Alexander-Arnold is reinventing the full-back

QUIZ Can you name the home stadium of every club in the Premier League and Football League?

Matt Ladson is the co-founder and editor of This Is Anfield, the independent Liverpool news and comment website, and covers all areas of the Reds for FourFourTwo – including transfer analysis, interviews, title wins and European trophies. As well as writing about Liverpool for FourFourTwo he also contributes to other titles including Yahoo and Bleacher Report. He is a lifelong fan of the Reds.

Read more
Liverpool fans show their support with flags and banners prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Ipswich Town FC at Anfield on January 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England
Arne Slot can win more than Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool but one thing needs to happen
Arne Slot puts his right arm around Darwin Nunez with disconsolate Liverpool players around him following Liverpool's penalty shoot out defeat to PSG in the Champions League
Liverpool's last title celebrations were anticlimactic and 2024/25's could easily be overshadowed by uncertainty
Liverpool boss Arne Slot could still win the Premier League in his first season in England
Liverpool could line up with an entirely new back FIVE next season, in unprecedented move following recent bombshell: report
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates his goal against Fulham last season
Trent Alexander-Arnold situation to be resolved and clear problem position sorted: Liverpool's dream transfer window
Liverpool boss Arne Slot could still win the Premier League in his first season in England
‘Five more wins should give Liverpool the title – they’re facing questions after their two cup defeats, but the Premier League was always the be all and end’ Former Anfield star explains how many points the Reds need to secure the title
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Brighton in November 2024.
Ballon d’Or 2025 power rankings: Mohamed Salah surges ahead as Liverpool team-mate comes into the reckoning
Latest in Lists
Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring for Barcelona against Benfica in the Champions League in March 2025.
Youngest scorers in Champions League history
Harry Kewell looks on while playing for Leeds United against Liverpool, 2002
The best Australian players in Premier League history
Sergio Aguero holds the Premier League trophy after Manchester City's 2020/21 title win
The best Argentine players in Premier League history
The UEFA Champions League trophy on display at Wembley ahead of the 2024 final
English clubs who played in the European Cup or Champions League
Kevin Nolan runs while playing for West Ham against Fulham, 2012
The most Premier League appearances without winning an England cap
The Manchester United badge on a shirt
Clubs who changed their name
Latest in Features
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
 Sheila Garcia of Real Madrid CF battle for the ball with Alessia Russo of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 18, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
'Over two legs I expected Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, I still think they can despite being 2-0 down,' says former Lioness Izzy Christiansen
Luiz Diaz of Colombia celebrates with James Rodriguez of Colombia after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Colombia vs Paraguay: Live streams for World Cup qualifier
Uruguay's Argentine head coach Marcelo Bielsa (R) gives instructions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Uruguay and Argentina at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, on March 21, 2025.
How to watch Bolivia vs Uruguay: Live streams for Conmebol World Cup qualifying
BRASILIA, BRAZIL - MARCH 20, 2025: Vinicius Junior of Brazil in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Argentina vs Brazil: Live streams for blockbuster World Cup qualifier
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on March 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Quiz! Can you name FourFourTwo's greatest Premier League players ever?