Where Liverpool must improve in order to compete in Europe
February 28th, 2025by James Nolan
It was 25 May 2025 and the setting was the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul. Liverpool Football Club found themselves 3-0 down to the mighty AC Milan at the interval of the UEFA Champions League all hopes of the Reds earning that fifth European crown appeared to be dashed, that was until a huge twist in the plot. Goals from skipper, Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and a spot kick by Xabi Alonso brought Liverpool back from the depths of despair.
This, coupled with possibly Jerzy Dudek's best ever game in his career, was enough to create one of the biggest fairy tales of the 21st century to date.
Liverpool were champions of Europe again, and this one was for keeps.
However, nearly ten years on from that historic night, Liverpool revisited the Ataturk on Thursday evening to take on Besiktas in the second leg of the Europa League last 32 tie. This time around, things weren't so glamorous.
A slender one nil lead from the first leg at Anfield proved to be insufficient as the Turkish giants dumped the Kopites out of Europe once and for all, following a dire Dejan Lovren penalty, which is probably still in flight as we speak.
All in all, Liverpool's season in Europe proved to be quite a stinker. From a dismal first Champions League campaign in five years to a sub par display over two legs in Europe's B competition, the Europa League, the reds truly have had a season to forget in the continent.
The question is, how can Liverpool improve in European play?
With the race for top four hotting up in the Premier League, there is no guarantee that the reds will be featuring in either the Champions League or the Europa League next season, but the following are a few things the Merseyside club will have to look into if they are to succeed in Europe in the next time of asking.
Firstly, Brendan Rodgers must lose all nativity on the European stage. The Northern Irishman's inexperience when it comes to managing at continental level was clearly on display throughout the campaign.
He appeared to be unable to figure out a way to perfectly balance his team. Players were playing three times in the space of seven days at times and it just wasn't going to work.
At times, the team had a pretty tired look about them when playing the midweek European fixtures. Also, playing Steven Gerrard in the Premier League on the weekend, followed by the Champions League on Tuesday or Wednesday is just not wise.
There was a time when the skipper was capable of doing that, but those days are gone. Gerrard has suffered many injury setbacks since entering his thirties and his games
