Here are a few reasons to be optimistic about Liverpool’s title challenge this season and the differences between this Liverpool side and unsuccessful title challenging LFC sides of the past. A strong defenceThe £75 million purchase of Virgil Van Dijk in January 2018 and the signing of Alisson in the Summer, after Loris Karius’ disastrous Champions League final display, has transformed the Liverpool defence and made them a lot stronger at the back. When Liverpool missed out on the title in 2013/14, the defence let them down as they conceded 50 goals that season.
In the Summer, after the disappointment of the Champions League final, Jurgen Klopp told Paul Machin in an interview that “an attack wins you games, but a defence wins you championships” and we have seen that with Klopp’s style change this season as LFC now have one of their best ever chances to win the Premier League whilst having a much better defensive record compared to recent years.This season, the Reds currently have the most clean sheets in the Premier League with 14 and have only conceded 15 goals in 26 games: the best record in the league so far this season. Under Rafael Benitez, in 2008/2009, Liverpool only conceded 27 goals but Chelsea and Man United had better defensive records that season. As Jurgen Klopp said to Paul, defence wins you titles and our current defensive record and Joe Gomez coming back from injury in March is one of the reasons I’m confident we can be successful in our push for the title. Our squadThis is one of the greatest Liverpool squads I have ever seen in my lifetime. Yes, the 2013/14 season we had players like Suarez, Sturridge in his prime, Gerrard and a young Raheem Sterling but it was far from an outstanding squad. Our defence was poor and there was no one on the bench who we could really turn to and change the game.It was the same in 2008/2009 where the Reds had a good XI but, as a squad, it wasn’t comparable to what we have now. Xherdan Shaqiri has been outstanding for us this season, just a £13 million signing from relegated Stoke, but has been outstanding and was the match winner against Man United. Sturridge came off the bench to score a late equaliser at Stamford Bridge; Origi got the winner in the derby in bizarre but brilliant circumstances.
There is also the amount of centre back pairings we have had to try this season with injuries to Gomez, Matip and Lovren. Injuries sustained to Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well, has seen Milner and Henderson playing at right-back at times this season and Klopp’s Reds have got through it and have only lost once all season. The Klopp effectThough it’s not a Premier league title, like Rafael Benitez, Jurgen Klopp has experience of winning league titles before. Another thing that let Brendan Rodgers down during his tenure at LFC and specifically during Liverpool’s title race in 2013/14 is that he lacked title race and big game experience. Jurgen Klopp, however, does not lack any of this.Klopp has won the Bundesliga twice with Dortmund as well as guiding both LFC and Dortmund to a Champions League Final. Granted, Rafael Benitez had won La Liga with Valencia before joining LFC in 2004 yet he was unable to bring a Premier League title to Merseyside. There is, however, a different vibe with Jurgen Klopp as the passionate man unites the fans during what is an exciting title race.
As well as all this we seem to have the luck on our side this season. Origi’s stoppage time winner against Everton was something I’d not quite seen before and although that wasn’t just luck, it was combined with Jordan Pickford having tiny arms. Those extra two points gained could turn out to be the difference at the end of the season. While we have dreams of lifting the title at Anfield on May 12th, there are ‘twelve cup finals left’ but I have confidence and belief that this year is our yearArticle by Jack Gill – @jacklfcgill16+ PODCASTS P/MONTH
12+ SHOWS P/MONTH
DAILY ARTICLES INC ‘SPECIAL GUEST WRITERS’
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS – INC JURGEN KLOPP!
Pre and Post Match Shows FREE month trial:https://buff.ly/2GNsNTv
