In their pursuit of four trophies this season, Liverpool is set to engage the expertise of neuroscientists from the German firm Neuro11. Scheduled sessions with the squad are planned ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea next month.
Having previously collaborated with these scientists in 2022 during their ambitious Quadruple campaign, the Reds experienced success by securing two cups. Despite narrowly missing out on the Premier League title by a single point and facing defeat in the Champions League final, the team benefited from the neuroscientists’ insights, which included measuring brain activity and developing personalized plans for each player.
Neuro11’s Cutting-Edge Approach: Elevating Liverpool Players’ Performance
The initiative aims to discover small advantages that can enhance players’ focus before crucial matches or high-pressure situations like penalty shoot-outs, which Liverpool faced twice against Chelsea in the 2022 Carabao and FA Cup finals.
During training sessions, players don electrodes from the Potsdam-based firm, measuring real-time brain activity. This data helps tailor approaches to achieve peak mental states, unique to each player, ultimately improving precision on the field.
Dr. Niklas Hausler, a co-founder, emphasized the importance of self-awareness in optimizing mental processes and establishing stable routines in 2022. The firm, successful in sports requiring high concentration like golf, darts, and archery, uses the gathered data to understand how players enter and exit the “zone.” This information informs customized practices for Liverpool’s stars, especially during pressure moments like taking penalties in front of large crowds at Wembley.
Neuro11 previously collaborated with the squad before the Carabao Cup semi-final and is set to do so again ahead of the crucial clash with Chelsea on February 25. This innovative approach is another example of Klopp’s forward-thinking strategies.
Klopp’s penchant for innovative ideas was evident in 2018 when he brought in specialist throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark to enhance those situations. Additionally, during a summer pre-season camp, Klopp invited German-born triathlete Jan Frodeno, an Olympic gold medalist and Ironman champion, to speak on mental resilience. The former Saatchi & Saatchi CEO conducted a session on empowering players’ voices.
In 2022, Jordan Henderson, the former captain of the Reds, revealed to Mail Sport, “Neuro11 has been working with us throughout the season. It helps us practice more effectively and concentrate on individual aspects, such as free kicks or penalties. This has been beneficial for many of the lads.”
Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai is set to return to team training on Friday following a hamstring injury and is expected to be part of the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup match against Norwich. Trent Alexander-Arnold is optimistic about joining him after recovering from a knee injury, and Andy Robertson is also ready for some playing time.
How many matches might Liverpool participate in this season, considering the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup?
How Many Games Could Liverpool Play This Season in the Premier League & Cup Competitions?
Jurgen Klopp’s team is set to face Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday, February 25, marking their third encounter in the Carabao Cup final. This follows their successful two-leg victory over Fulham.
Liverpool aims to replicate their achievement from the 2021/22 season by reaching both domestic cup finals. The journey continues with a fourth-round FA Cup home game against Norwich on Sunday.
The possibility of a domestic Treble looms large, given Liverpool’s five-point lead at the summit of the Premier League. However, reigning champions Manchester City, the only English side to secure all three major domestic trophies in a single season (2019), are in second place with a game in hand. The race for domestic supremacy adds an extra layer of excitement to Liverpool’s ambitious campaign.
While finishing fifth in the Premier League last year means the Champions League is not the primary focus for Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp could guide his team to European glory in the Europa League, where they currently stand as favorites after topping their group.
Should Liverpool advance to all three available finals, they would play a total of 63 games during the 2023/24 season, spanning 287 days. This translates to an average of a game every 4.55 days. To put this into historical perspective, since the Premier League reduced to 20 teams in 1995, only five teams have played more than 63 matches across all competitions in a single season.
At the top of the list is Chelsea, who played a record 69 matches during the 2012/13 season. This remarkable tally was influenced by their triumphs in the Champions League and FA Cup the previous season, leading to their participation in the Community Shield, Super Cup, and Club World Cup. Despite being eliminated from the Champions League group stages, Chelsea went on to win the Europa League, competing in a total of eight competitions in that campaign.
A 63-game season would match a total that Liverpool has reached three times since 1995. In the 2000/01 season, Gerard Houllier’s team played 63 matches as they secured victories in the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup.
Notably, Klopp has previously led Liverpool through two 63-game campaigns. The first was in 2015/16, when they reached the finals of the League Cup and Europa League but suffered losses. The second instance occurred two years ago, with Liverpool winning both domestic cups and reaching the Champions League final.
Crucial Dates on the Horizon for Liverpool?
If Liverpool successfully advances to the FA Cup and Europa League finals, they could be gearing up for a monumental final week of their season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side might find themselves competing for the Premier League title or, at the very least, a place in the top four when they host Wolves on the last day of the Premier League season on Sunday, May 19.
Subsequently, Liverpool would make a short trip to Dublin, just a 140-mile hop across the Irish Sea from Anfield, for the Europa League final on Wednesday, May 22.
The climax would see Liverpool return to Wembley for the FA Cup final on Saturday, May 25. This scenario sets the stage for Liverpool to play the three most significant games of their season in the span of just seven days, creating an intense and potentially historic conclusion to their campaign.
Liverpool’s Crucial Dates
- Chelsea (N) – Carabao Cup final, Wembley, Sunday February 25
- Wolves (H) – Premier League final day, Anfield, Sunday May 19
- Europa League final – Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Wednesday May 22
- FA Cup final – Wembley, Saturday May 25
