pressure was one of the few things keeping him in the team, averaging 6.5 tackles per game, the second best season for tackles in his career. That wasn't enough for him to keep his spot in the team, and was dropped due to an incredibly poor eight disposal game against in the 8th round of the 2017 AFL season, after which coach Luke Beveridge decided he needed some time in the VFL. Liberatore did not make the Top 10 of the Charles Sutton Medal voting for only the third time in his career, missing out in his debut season and in 2015. Liberatore had another hapless season in 2018, after he suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee in the ' 82 point loss to in the opening round of the season. The club confirmed that he would sit out the entire season the next day. During his rehabilitation, he took time to engage in other activities outside of football. Liberatore signed a one-year contract extension at the conclusion of the season. 2019 was another mediocre season for Liberatore, despite the Bulldogs making finals for the first time since 2016. Liberatore played 16 games, missing eight throughout the season. Liberatore played every game until a cartilage injury to his knee in the ' nail-biting three-point victory over in the 13th round of the 2020 AFL season saw him miss rounds 14–17, before returning in round 18. Despite initial fears that the injury was a second Anterior cruciate ligament injury, it was cleared as a more minor injury. He had one of his best games for the season in the 's 5 point loss against in the third round after a solid start to the season, where he collected 30 disposals, 9 tackles and 12 clearances, named the Bulldogs' second best behind Marcus Bontempelli. He also had another great game against the previous round, collecting 28 disposals, one goal and seven tackles. He was named as one of their best on ground. For the third year in a row, Liberatore did not reach the top 10 of the Charles Sutton Medal voting. He signed a two-year contract extension which kept him at the club until at least the end of 2021. 2020—present: Return to form Liberatore began to improve upon his form after a chaotic year for the AFL due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.