Liverpool and Spurs: Season Review, High’s, Low’s and Final Grades

After reviewing and rating Arsenal and Chelsea’s seasons yesterday, now it’s the turn of Liverpool and Spurs….

Liverpool

As they watched Sevilla celebrate yet another Europa League triumph, Liverpool fans might not feel like they have a lot to be happy about this year.  Still, when the dust settles on this turbulent season, they may come to relish what awaits them after the summer break.  After Brendan Rodgers was relieved of his duties in the Autumn, Jurgen Klopp has come in and done an exceptional job, bringing spirit and passion to a team that looked rudderless under his predecessor.

He may have missed out on the Champions League places, but Klopp has reinvigorated a flagging side, with Adam Lallana and James Milner in particular looking like new players under his tutelage.  The former Mainz boss has made the most of his peerless motivational skills, and while they may be trophyless this season, Liverpool have shown enough to let everybody know they’ll be horrible opponents next year.

Highs:  Firmino, Coutinho and co. gave Manchester City a footballing lesson at Eastlands, whilst the tremendous Europa League clash with Dortmund will live long in footballing memory. The arrival of Jurgen Klopp will almost certainly be seen as the highlight of a bumpy but entertaining year on Merseyside, while the improving fortunes of Simon Mignolet and Dejan Lovren have been warmly welcomed.

Lows:  Their defence is still too brittle.  Martin Skrtel needs to do more, whilst Alberto Moreno continues to look like a defensive liability despite offering a lot going forward.  A second-half collapse in the Europa League final means their season ends on a bitter note, but optimism reigns as fans look towards a bright future.

Grade: B

Spurs

Every Spurs fan knows how long it’s been.  This season, they came closer than ever to finishing above Arsenal, after a consistent campaign which deserved a better end.  If you’d have offered fans third place last August, they would have snapped your hand off, but a nagging regret about what could have been still lingers.

Nevertheless, Mauricio Pocchetino has been a revelation for this Tottenham side, transforming them from paperweights to heavyweights in his short career at the club.  Young, hungry and ambitious, Spurs are now a real force in the Premier League, and with the goals of Harry Kane to count on, only a fool would write them off next year.

Highs:  Everybody expected him to falter after a phenomenal debut season, but Harry Kane has silenced all the doubters with a stunning campaign, winning the Golden Boot with 25 goals in 28 games.  Erik Lamela, after a few years in the footballing wilderness, has rediscovered some of the form that convinced Daniel Levy to pry him from Seria A and Roma as the replacement for Gareth Bale.  Toby Alderweireld hasn’t put a foot wrong, while Moussa Dembélé betrayed his languid style with a string of combative but incisive performances.  Delle Alli has been the standout performer in a year where most Spurs players had the seasons of their lives.

Lows:  A 2-2 draw against Chelsea signalled the end of their title challenge, but the reaction of Spurs’ heartbroken players crossed the line.  A 5-1 capitulation against relegated Newcastle on the final day did a disservice to their brilliant season, whilst also ensuring that Arsenal would pip them to second place in the League.  It was a disappointing footnote to an otherwise flourishing season.

Grade:  A