Team Liquid’s LCS Reign Comes to an End
Team Liquid, the dominant force in the LCS for the past four years, finds themselves in a state of turmoil. After three weeks of play in the 2020 LCS Spring Split, they have only managed to win two games and are currently tied for seventh place. To make matters worse, they were recently defeated by the worst team in North America on Monday Night League.
There is hope, however, as their new star acquisition, European jungler Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen, is set to join the team in week four after resolving visa issues. But fans shouldn’t expect a quick fix. Team Liquid has significant issues beyond the jungle role that need to be addressed before they can once again be considered championship contenders.
Becoming the Underdogs
After winning four consecutive LCS championships, Team Liquid had become somewhat of a villain in the eyes of many fans. AD carry Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng expressed this sentiment, acknowledging the pressure of pursuing a fifth straight title. Fans who wanted to see Team Liquid fail are now witnessing their struggles, particularly with Doublelift’s performances. While he has the lowest KDA among bot laners in the LCS, the team’s faults extend beyond individual performances.
Doublelift’s reliance on scaling champions like Senna, who sacrifice early game dominance for late game power, contradicts his aggressive playstyle. When Doublelift isn’t carrying, Team Liquid’s performance suffers. In their match against Golden Guardians, Doublelift was hooked and killed by Guardians support Yuri “Keith” Jew, a player he had criticized for switching from ADC to support. The team needs to address these issues in order to succeed.
The Arrival of Broxah
With the arrival of Broxah, it’s important to note that he won’t solve all of Team Liquid’s problems. While he brings mechanical skill and aggression, he will need time to adjust to Liquid’s playstyle and provide proper support to their lanes. Broxah replaces longtime starter Jake “Xmithie” Puchero, who was known for his selfless playstyle but lacked carry potential in international competitions. Broxah’s arrival presents a challenge in finding the right balance and replacing the steadying presence of Xmithie.
Aiming for International Success
Despite the difficulties that come with incorporating Broxah into the team, it is necessary for Team Liquid’s future success. They must look beyond the LCS and strive for international achievements, even if it means exiting the group stage at Worlds. To make this possible, Liquid needs to invest resources in enabling Broxah. Jensen and Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in need to work more closely with Broxah to secure vision and invade the enemy’s side of the map. By embracing change, Liquid can become a more unpredictable and interesting team, potentially transforming them from villains to heroes once again.
Team Liquid’s unprecedented reign in the LCS will be remembered, but all good things must come to an end. If their reign does indeed end this split, they can take pride in their efforts to become the best version of themselves. Maybe that is enough to regain the trust and admiration of fans.