Thanks very much to guest poster @ajiteshchhatani for this article!
Always a good feeling, winning, isn’t it? Especially when you’ve won ugly and dug one out without having showed your full footballing capability. Reds fans can head into another international break (it’s a snooze-fest, I know!) knowing full well that the team has built up great momentum winning four on the bounce in the league.
At this point in the season, especially after the manner of the win in South Wales, the Reds are being talked up for a potential title tilt by a few journalists, pundits and even current players who’ve played under Klopp before. While it is high time Liverpool’s work on the pitch is recognised, fans can do without getting too far ahead of themselves and enjoy what is coming along. I will try and present my points without coming across as a pessimist.
Clean sheet dreams…
Title winning teams are built around attacking prowess, consistency, and defensive stability. The Reds have no lack of the first two (so far) but somewhat lack in the third aspect. Goals conceded – from set-piece or otherwise, still remain an issue to be sorted out. Liverpool are among the worst teams when it comes to conceding from set-pieces and committing mistakes directly leading to goals. Add to the fact that we now have a new keeper between the sticks and on the evidence thus far, he’ll need a settling in period. With our movement and fluidity in the attacking third coupled with counter-pressing opponents into committing mistakes, we might top the scoring charts, but outscoring teams week in week out is going to be hard work unless we tighten up at the back.
The size of the competition…
Most fellow fans would agree our main objective was to be back among Europe’s elite when the season started, by finishing in the top four. Fellow competitors strengthened impressively and some added to the quality they already had. This isn’t to say the Reds cannot stretch them all the way and even beat them, but the field already resembles the beginning of an F1 race with every inch being fought for to take the lead. If we’d have found this standard under Klopp at the beginning of last term, we might’ve challenged Leicester for glory because many big sides failed. This season though, City, Spurs, Arsenal and United all look on song.
Home form…
So far so good. But Liverpool must keep on winning more, drawing less and losing almost nothing. There were only eight home victories last season with eight draws and three losses. By comparison, Leicester won the joint most home games and won the most away of any Premier League teams last season. Liverpool have come away with some great away results but must continue the good work at home. In front of the New Main Stand so far we’ve thrashed Leicester and Hull. If Anfield remains a fortress our chances will improve tenfold. Another win verses Manchester United next time out would do wonders…