COMMENT: So is it a coronation? The current European champions now marching towards an inevitable Premier League title? Eight points clear at the top of the table – and given the state of those around them – how could you argue otherwise…?
But of course, we’ve been here before. Just last season. Halfway through the campaign and Jurgen Klopp’s team were being celebrated much as they are today. Back then it was actually a nine point lead at the summit – and that was on a second-placed Tottenham. While emphasising the nine points Liverpool blew after the New Year, it’s often neglected the chase Manchester City managed to pull off. Pep Guardiola’s lot were actually as far back as ten points down before eventually pipping the Reds to the title.
For the moment, on paper, Liverpooldo look unstoppable. The scoresheet says as much. But fortune has been with them. A slip by Dean Henderson at Bramall Lane. That messy VAR call against Leicester City. Beaten by Napoli in the Champions League and rattled at home by an exciting, young RB Salzburg team. This isn’t the campaign of an all-powerful steamroller. There’s vulnerabilities in this Liverpool side. Yes, a title winning team needs to be able to triumph when not playing well. But this hasn’t been just the odd performance. And we’re only eight games in. Luck has been with this Reds team – even the Super Cup was won on penalties.
That’s not to ignore what Liverpool have managed to achieve. While their peers have effectively raised the white flag, Liverpool, as it stands today, have stared down the State-backed City. The City of limitless resources. And are winning – by some margin. Again proving wrong all those whom claimed City’s spending power would make them unbeatable. It still hasn’t happened in Europe and Liverpool are on track to do the same at home.
What’s more, they’ve established this lead with a dumped goalkeeper signed off a semi-pro pitch in Spain. Okay, okay, that’s a little harsh on Adrian. But not even Klopp would have expected things to have run as well as they have since Alisson hobbled off on that opening Friday night against Norwich City.
Ability-wise this is a good Liverpool team, but not a great one. But where they are outstanding is upstairs. As Klopp has stated, this group he’s pulled together are “mental giants”. They don’t know when they’re beaten. And it’s the one element within this squad that is visibly pulling them through games this season. 1-1 with Leicester and 3-3 with Salzburg, it wasn’t Liverpool‘s players who crumbled. They know where to dig to mine that little bit of inspiration and belief to drag them over the line.
It’s a belief stemmed from that Anfield night against Barcelona last season. The four goals. The clean sheet. All achieved with Lionel Messi on the pitch. It’s that performance – more than actually lifting the Champions League crown – which is having a visible effect on how this team is going about it’s business today.
But as mentioned, there are cracks. The defence is shipping goals. They’re nicking wins, rather than dominating games. And that first showdown with City is still to happen.
Some 32 years ago, Liverpool began the season in similar vein, winning ten of their first eleven games. Only a Tony Cottee goal at West Ham forcing a draw with Kenny Dalglish’s men. But this was a team that actually did steamroll their opposition. Six of those ten wins featured three goals or more. Liverpool would go onto lift the 1987/1988 League title nine points clear of the other Manchester club.
It’s been well over a generation since that triumph. But that was a team. Indeed, this column would argue Klopp’s lot would struggle to lay glove on ’em. Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge in attack. Hansen and Gillespie at the back. Whelan and McMahon in midfield. Powerful. Intimidating. They had others beaten before they’d hopped off the bus. There’s just no comparing.
Which is why this title race is not yet over. Eight points is some lead – even at this stage of the season. But this isn’t an intimidating Liverpool team. They’re still growing. And there is enough there to suggest they could develop into something resembling Dalglish’s best.
But they’re not there yet. Even with the lead as they hold today. More than most, Liverpool know nothing’s inevitable in football.
LIVERPOOL 2019
Alisson
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Joel Matip – Virgil van Dijk – Andrew Robertson
Jordan Henderson – Fabinho – Gini Wijnaldum
Sadio Mane – Mohamed Salah – Roberto Firmino
LIVERPOOL 1987
Bruce Grobbelaar
Steve Nicol – Alan Hansen – Gary Gillespie – Steve Staunton
Ray Houghton – Ronnie Whelan – Steve McMahon – John Barnes
Peter Beardsley – John Aldridge
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