Member-only story
Is it Lonely at the top?
I recently moved to a new house. The issue with moving to a new house is that nobody tells you the number of things you have to do. They also do not tell you all the things that may go wrong. One of those things that went wrong was the lack of internet in the house. I, therefore, could not post any articles. However, I did have a TV, and on this TV, I have been able to watch the mini-crisis at Liverpool Football Club.
Before this article, Liverpool had lost seven of their last ten games in the league, including their last five home games. Liverpool’s story this season is an all too familiar one. It is the story of a team or an athlete who reaches the mountain top but, unfortunately, cannot sustain the level that allowed them to become champions. Liverpool had been so dominant last season that many had expected them to dominate for years to come.
Of course, context matters. Liverpool has suffered multiple injuries to top players this season. That does not excuse the fact that they have not played well enough. So, what changed?
The United States female football legend Mia Hamm once said, ‘It is more difficult to stay on top than to get there.’ That could be what has happened to Liverpool. When you are a member of the chasing pack, there is little to no pressure on you. Liverpool last season had set a target of chasing Manchester City. However, this…
