129th season in existence of Liverpool F.C and the 4th year under Manager Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool 2020–21 football season
The 2020–21 season was Liverpool Football Club's 129th season in existence and their 59th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. In addition to the domestic league, Liverpool participated in this season's editions of the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, the FA Community Shield and the UEFA Champions League. The season covered the period from August 2020 to 30 June 2021.
Season overview
The season was notably difficult, as the majority of games were played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[1] and all three of the club's senior central defenders sustained long-term injuries.[2] The team's early form was creditable and, on 22 November 2020, they broke the club record for longest unbeaten run at home in the league (which had previously stood at 63) with a 3–0 win over Leicester City.[3] However, the run ended on 21 January 2021 following a 1–0 defeat to Burnley; it had stood at 68, the second-longest unbeaten home run in English top-flight history, behind Chelsea's run of 86 games between March 2004 and October 2008, and the longest under a single manager.[4] A tough period followed as Liverpool suffered a run of six consecutive defeats at Anfield.[5] This ended any chance the team had of retaining the Premier League title as by early March, Liverpool sat 8th in the table with 43 points. The team, however, was fortunately able to reverse their fortunes, winning eight of their final ten league games, which included goalkeeper Alisson scoring a stoppage-time winner against West Bromwich Albion (the first goal ever scored by a Liverpool goalkeeper in the 129-year history of the club),[6] meaning they finished third with 69 points, qualifying for the next season's UEFA Champions League.[7]
First-team squad
- As of 23 May 2021[8]
New contracts
Transfers
Transfers in
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £15,000,000
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £25,000,000
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £45,000,000
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £1,800,000
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £1,600,000
Loan in
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £1,500,000
Transfers out
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £3,500,000
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £13,500,000
- ^ Fee may eventually rise to £23,500,000
Loans out
Transfer summary
Pre-season friendlies
On 19 August 2020, Liverpool announced that they would play two friendlies as part of their pre-season training camp in Austria.[41] On 2 September 2020, they announced that they would complete their pre-season campaign with a home game against Blackpool.[42]
Competitions
Overview
Premier League
League table
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) If the champions, relegated teams or qualified teams for UEFA competitions cannot be determined by rules 1 to 3, rules 4.1 to 4.3 are applied – 4.1) Points gained in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.2) Away goals scored in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.3) Play-offs[43]
(C) Champions
Notes:
- ^ Since the winners of the 2020–21 FA Cup, Leicester City, also qualified for the Europa League based on league position, the second Europa League group stage berth allocated to England was transferred to the sixth-placed team.
Results summary
Results by matchday
Source: Premier League
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
The league fixtures were announced on 20 August 2020.[44]
FA Cup
Liverpool entered the competition in the third round. The draw was confirmed on 30 November 2020 live on BT Sport.[46] The draw for the fourth and fifth round were made on 11 January 2021, conducted by former Liverpool player Peter Crouch.[47]
EFL Cup
Liverpool entered the competition in the third round. The draw was confirmed on 6 September 2020 live on Sky Sports.[48] The fourth round draw was conducted on 17 September 2020, also live on Sky Sports.[49]
FA Community Shield
UEFA Champions League
Liverpool entered the competition in the group stage.
Group stage
The draw for the group stage was held on 1 October 2020.[51]
Ajax v Liverpool Liverpool v Ajax Knockout phase
Round of 16
The draw for the round of 16 was held on 14 December 2020.[53]
Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 19 March 2021.[58]
Squad statistics
Appearances
Players with no appearances are not included on the list.
- As of match played 23 May 2021
Goals
- As of match played 23 May 2021
- ^ a b Players who left Liverpool on loan during the season
Assists
Not all goals have an assist.
- As of match played 23 May 2021
- ^ a b Players who left Liverpool on loan during the season
Clean sheets
- As of match played 23 May 2021
Disciplinary record
- As of match played 23 May 2021
- ^ a b Players who left Liverpool on loan during the season
Club awards
End-of-season awards
- Standard Chartered Men's Player of the Season: Mohamed Salah[59]
- Goal of the Season: Alisson (vs West Brom, 16 May 2021)[60]
Liverpool Standard Chartered Player of the Month award
Awarded monthly to the player that was chosen by fans voting on Liverpoolfc.com
References
- ^ "Reds Behind Closed Doors 20/21". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Jürgen Klopp confirms Joel Matip injury diagnosis". Liverpool FC. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Jota strikes again as Liverpool ease to record-breaking win over Leicester". The Guardian. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Liverpool 0–1 Burnley highlights". Sky Sports. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "Lemina strike earns Fulham victory at Liverpool". Premier League. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "West Bromwich Albion 1–2 Liverpool". BBC. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Mané seals third place for Liverpool with double against Crystal Palace". The Guardian. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Liverpool First Team". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Neco Williams signs new long-term contract with Liverpool F.C." Liverpool F.C. 17 August 2020.
- ^ "Liverpool complete signing of Kostas Tsimikas". Liverpool F.C. 10 August 2020.
- ^ "Liverpool FC complete signing of Thiago Alcantara". Liverpool F.C. 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Liverpool FC seal signing of Diogo Jota on long-term deal". Liverpool F.C. 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Liverpool FC complete signing of Marcelo Pitaluga". Liverpool F.C. 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Liverpool FC seal signing of Ben Davies on long-term deal". Liverpool F.C. 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Liverpool complete loan deal for Ozan Kabak". Liverpool F.C. 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Potters land Lonergan". Stoke City F.C. 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Adam Lallana joins Brighton". Liverpool F.C. 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Dejan Lovren leaves LFC for Zenit St. Petersburg". Liverpool F.C. 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Ovie Ejaria completes permanent move to Reading". Liverpool F.C. 28 August 2020.
- ^ "Ki-Jana Hoever completes permanent move to Wolves". Liverpool F.C. 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Rhian Brewster completes move to Sheffield United". Liverpool F.C. 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Herbie Kane completes transfer to Barnsley". Liverpool F.C. 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Morgan Boyes: Fleetwood Town sign young Liverpool defender on loan". BBC Sport. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Morgan Boyes returns from loan spell at Fleetwood Town". Liverpool F.C. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Adam Lewis joins Amiens SC on loan". Liverpool F.C. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Adam Lewis joins Plymouth Argyle on loan". Liverpool F.C. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Sheyi Ojo joins Cardiff City on season-long loan". Liverpool F.C. 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Tony Gallacher completes loan switch to Toronto F.C." liverpoolfc.com. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Taiwo Awoniyi joins Union Berlin on loan". Liverpool F.C. 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Loris Karius completes loan switch to Union Berlin". Liverpool F.C. 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Kamil Grabara joins AGF Aarhus on loan for 2020-21". Liverpool F.C. 28 September 2020.
- ^ Williams, Sam. "Anderson Arroyo joins Salamanca CF UDS on loan". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Marko Grujic joins FC Porto on season-long loan". Liverpool F.C. 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Ben Woodburn completes Blackpool loan move". Liverpool F.C. 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Harry Wilson joins Cardiff City on loan". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Harvey Elliott joins Blackburn Rovers on loan". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Liam Millar: Liverpool winger joins Charlton Athletic on loan". BBC Sport. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Sepp van den Berg joins Preston on loan". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Takumi Minamino joins Southampton on loan". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Jaros Joins On Loan From Liverpool". St Patrick's Athletic F.C. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Reds to play friendlies against Stuttgart and Salzburg". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "Liverpool to face Blackpool in pre-season friendly". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "Premier League Handbook 2020/21" (PDF). Premier League. pp. 103–105. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ "Premier League 2020/21 fixtures released". Premier League. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "Sunday's league fixture at Old Trafford is postponed following a security breach at the stadium". premierleague.com. Premier League. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ "Premier League and Championship Clubs Join Emirates FA Cup After third round Draw". The FA. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "The Emirates FA Cup fourth and fifth round draw made". The Football Association. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Carabao Cup: Round Two and Three draw confirmed". English Football League. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Carabao Cup: Round Four draw confirmed". English Football League. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "First ever double header men's and women's Community Shield to be played at Wembley". The Football Association. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Champions League group stage draw made in Geneva". UEFA. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Jurgen Klopp given yellow card following protests at referee when Liverpool were 5-0 up in Champions League clash".
- ^ "Champions League round of 16 draw: all you need to know". UEFA.com. 14 December 2020.
- ^ "UEFA Champions League venue changes". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Champions League: RB Leipzig v Liverpool moved to Budapest because of Germany travel ban". BBC Sport. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Liverpool vs Leipzig Champions League round of 16 second leg to be played in Budapest". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ "Liverpool to host RB Leipzig in Budapest for Champions League last 16 second leg". BBC Sport. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ "UEFA Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draws: all you need to know". UEFA.com. 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Mohamed Salah voted Standard Chartered Men's Player of the Season". Liverpool F.C. 25 May 2021.
- ^ Shaw, Chris (2 June 2021). "Alisson Becker wins Liverpool Goal of the Season for 2020-21". Liverpool F.C.
- ^ "Sadio Mane named Liverpool's September Player of the Month". Liverpool F.C. 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Diogo Jota wins Standard Chartered Player of the Month for October". Liverpool F.C. 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Diogo Jota wins Standard Chartered Player of the Month for November". Liverpool F.C. 18 December 2020.
- ^ "Mohamed Salah named Standard Chartered Player of the Month for December". Liverpool F.C. 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Mohamed Salah named Standard Chartered Player of the Month for January". Liverpool F.C. 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Mohamed Salah named Standard Chartered Player of the Month for February". Liverpool F.C. 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Nat Phillips named Standard Chartered Player of the Month for March". Liverpool F.C. 1 April 2021.
- ^ "Alexander-Arnold named Standard Chartered Player of the Month". Liverpool F.C. 7 May 2021.
External links