Team Liquid is out of the LCS Spring Split playoff contention

It is back to the drawing board for Team Liquid.

Team Liquid has become the third and latest team out of the running for the LCS Spring Split playoffs. This comes after their most recent loss against Counter-Logic Gaming earlier today, which solidified their bottom four standing in the LCS this season. Team Liquid will join Dignitas and Immortals on the sidelines when the group stage ends, a place where many people would not have predicted.

The organisation invested heavily in the off-season after its previous roster failed to qualify for either one of the international LANs last year. Aside from promoting two young, up-and-coming talents from their academy system, Team Liquid also brought in the 2022 world champion jungler, Hong "Pyosik" Chang-hyeon as well as former LCS MVP, Park "Summit" Woo-tae. Throw in the experience Jo "CoreJJ" Yong-in has and you have got yourselves a championship-contending team.

Unfortunately, that has not been the case for Team Liquid this season. So far, they've only mustered seven wins out of 17 games, which includes two straight opening-round losses in the first week as well as dropping all three matches in the first LCS super week. But for the most part, Team Liquid's main downfall this season would be their consistency at being inconsistent.

Aside from their two-game win streak in the second week, Team Liquid had never been able to string together a good run of games. Before the first LCS super week, they were 3-3 but three straight losses against the likes of CLG, Evil Geniuses, and Cloud9 would be enough to send another opponent staggering. And from there, it was just a rollercoaster ride, bouncing from a win to a loss on repeat for the past three weeks.

And even after defeating Dignitas just a few days ago, it was not enough to get the team going against CLG. Their final match of the group stage season will be against EG, who are currently third in the LCS standings and are poised to make the playoffs. As for Team Liquid, it's back to the drawing board to right their wrongs for the Summer Split.

A big decision must also be made on some of its new recruits, which includes midlaner, Harry "Haeri" Kang and AD carry, Sean "Yeon" Sung. While both were standout players in the LCS Proving Grounds and Academy League, playing in the upper echelons of the LCS is another beast entirely. So far, it has been a struggle for both players to adjust to their new roles as well as a new style of play.

Of course, there are still signs of potential. For instance, Yeon holds the record for the highest farming score of 11.7 CSM, putting it at 328 CS in 28 minutes and six seconds. Team Liquid is also the third-highest in terms of GPM for this split so it shows that there is potential and room for improvement. The team's ability to start the early game strong and to build a good gold lead is one of its best traits, but their inconsistency in holding that lead is preventing the team from progressing.