Liverpool's form has been nothing short of depressing, so what now?

Liverpool's current form is appalling, but why is it happening, and what do they do now?

So often when Liverpool have been going through a rough patch, there's been the impression it will get better. Under Jurgen Klopp, this team has always been on an upward trajectory. The momentum reached its peak as Liverpool finally claimed the Premier League title.

This season, however, that trajectory has been unmistakably downward.

Of course, there have been outside factors. The injury situation has been well documented.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Diogo Jota are among many who've spent time with Liverpool's medical team. However, that's not the whole story, not by a long shot. In front of the goal, they've been woeful, not scoring from open play at Anfield since December.

Frankly, the team's form has been pathetic. Of course, there has been some bad luck on the way. Denied what looked like clear penalties against Southampton and Chelsea, those were game-changing decisions. However, despite that, something clearly needs to change.

From a tactical point of view, there needs to be a switch. Liverpool's 4-3-3 has gone from unbeatable and hard to plan for, to very predictable and a little tragic. Missing Fabinho and Jordan Henderson has robbed the midfield of its best ball winners.

This means the pressing is less efficient, with Liverpool struggling to break through deeper lines as a result, with teams able to retain the ball far more easily.

Without Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk, Jurgen Klopp's high line has been exposed by simple switches of play behind the full-backs. Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have hit a dire run of form, with Mohamed Salah also struggling to maintain his form with such little support.

There have been calls for sacking the manager, and as a purely emotional response, it's understandable. However, when analysing the move, it'd be a ridiculous one. Jurgen Klopp is the catalyst for all the good Liverpool has seen these last three seasons.

To get rid of him would inevitably lead to a downgrade. There's also the question of the players. The squad Klopp has assembled has been together for years, and despite recent form, it's filled with world-class players.

Liverpool will in all probability not make the Champions League spots this season. However, with Klopp at the helm and players to return, Liverpool will in all probability return to the upper echelons of the league next season.

Now take Klopp out of that equation.

You have a team suffering badly, out of the Champions League, with unhappy players. You have a new manager, one in all probability, less qualified than his predecessor. If the likes of Mohamed Salah and co. were doubting their commitment to the Reds before Klopp's departure, they certainly would afterward.

This Liverpool team is in a rough situation right now. It's hard to see where it ends.

However, getting rid of Jurgen Klopp would certainly make matters worse.