Will Liverpool's defence undermine a title challenge once again?
Already four points clear at the top of the table, the smart money is certainly on Manchester City to win the Premier League this season, with some suggesting Pep Guardiola’s side could do so at a canter.
Though a 100% record in the league under their new manager is cause for great enthusiasm for the City fans, the quality of their opponents has been flagged as a reason for their perceived dominance so far. Indeed, while a win in the Manchester derby represented a first big victory for Guardiola, the midweek draw at Celtic highlighted that his side, whilst incredibly impressive going forwards at times, isn’t without fault.
The same could certainly be said of Liverpool, who, with the majority of bookmakers, have already shortened to become second favourites for the title, now seen as City’s biggest threat. The Reds are currently five points adrift, but can claim to have endured a significantly trickier start to the campaign.
After all, while City’s other five opponents to their Manchester rivals all currently occupy a place in the bottom six, Liverpool have already faced Tottenham (second), Arsenal (third), Chelsea (eighth) and reigning champions Leicester. The fact that their one defeat thus far came against Burnley is the biggest reason why many still have their doubts over the Merseysiders' credentials.
Indeed, while Liverpool have impressed against top teams ever since Klopp was appointed last year, they have a tendency to let standards slip against weaker sides. Though the more optimistic fans will point to Saturday’s 5-1 hammering of Hull as something of a turning point in that regard, it’s far too early to tell if the Reds will have the staying power in a title race.
The Tigers, after all, were reduced to 10-men - giving away a penalty in the process - with the score at 1-0 at the weekend, and Liverpool still failed to keep their first clean sheet of the season in the league. It’s this propensity to leak sloppy goals that remains the scourge of this side, and while Klopp has reinstilled and indeed improved upon the team’s ability to outclass opponents even when they do concede, it’s a tough ask over the course of the season to keep that up.
If you look at title winners in previous years most, at some stage or another - not least the last two champions in Chelsea and Leicester - have gone through a prolonged period of the season grinding out unattractive, narrow victories. Liverpool’s ability to manage that is questionable to say the least.
For the time being, though, they are a joy to watch once more, just as they were when proving to be Manchester City’s closest rivals in 2013/14. That season, Liverpool were rampant, breaking the 100-goal mark with a fearsome front three of Sterling, Sturridge and, of course, Suarez. It was their defensive record that would ultimately let them down, conceding 50 goals - more than 11th-placed Palace, whose three against them effectively saw the Reds’ title bid dissipate - and the fans and manager must fear that a case of de ja vu could prove their undoing once more.
In Sadio Mane (8.08), Roberto Firmino (7.75), Philippe Coutinho (7.74) and Adam Lallana (7.49) - the club’s highest rated players thus far - they have a front four that is perfectly formed to fulfil Klopp’s high pressing demands. To have a finisher of Daniel Sturridge’s calibre on the bench may seem daft but ironically, where Liverpool fans bemoaned the striker’s constant injuries in the past, a lay off for any of the current foursome that would likely see Sturrdige return to the side would be a detriment to their attack right now. Just as Christian Benteke was deemed surplus to requirements due to not fitting Klopp’s desired style, the England international risks the same fate if he cannot match the standards of those currently ahead of him in the pecking order.
Rather than winning possession via tackles in dangerous positions - only ranking 13th in that regard - the Reds’ relentless pressure is instead forcing opponents into misplaced passes or errors of judgment. Curtis Davies, who came up against a Liverpool side in full flow at the weekend, summed up the threat of this Liverpool side superbly.
In possession they have become the sort of shape shifting nightmare to defend against that Pep Guardiola adores. “It is hard to lay a glove on anyone. When there is so much inter-changing you cannot put your mark on one person,” the Hull captain attested. “It is tough to make a tackle. One second Mane will be in that hole, then Lallana and then Coutinho.” Without the ball he continued that Liverpool “didn’t give [Hull] a chance to breathe”.
The defence, however, remains a massive problem. As mentioned, they are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season, and have kept just 4 since the turn of the year. That’s the same number as a woeful Aston Villa side, as well as fellow relegated side Newcastle, and from more matches. Simply put, it’s a record that will without question cost them a shot at a first Premier League trophy in 26 years should it continue.
A match against Swansea up next is the sort of game that should be a standard win for a title hopeful. Manchester City just managed it after all, albeit after a scare. Liverpool, however, have won just one of their last 5 matches at the Liberty Stadium against the Welsh outfit and it falls into the category of games that Liverpool have routinely slipped up in in the past.
Saturday’s early kick off, then, represents another chance to prove that they have progressed. However, if their inability to keep a clean sheet persists, all the firepower and fluid attacking football in the world won’t win Klopp the title.
Can Liverpool win the league this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
