Liverpool’s win against Everton was fortuitous and there are no two ways about it. But it was an important win as the Reds dug deep to keep within touching distance of Manchester City.
To pick up 11 wins from 14 games and remain unbeaten while conceding just five goals is an incredible record even though Manchester City look like the real record-setters this season.
Last season proved that it was going to take something special to stop City in the 2018/19 campaign and so has been proven, as only Liverpool have managed to stay on their tail while Chelsea, who looked like they were in with a sniff, have dropped seven points behind.
Despite everything Klopp’s side have achieved this season, a lot of fans have complained about the style of the football.
There’s nothing wrong in expecting more of course, but Liverpool’s summer window coupled with what has transpired elsewhere means Klopp should be lauded for the successful implementation of a more patient approach.
A new core and the post World Cup hangover
Fabinho and Naby Keita arrived with a lot of noise but it’s safe to say that they still have a lot of work to do.
While Keita has been unlucky with injuries and has shown glimpses of what he can do, Fabinho has been slowly integrated into the Liverpool team.
The Reds’ style is still based on transition and making the switch from Ligue 1, where the game isn’t as intense as the Premier League, isn’t something that can be achieved with a handful of games.
Jordan Henderson hasn’t had an impressive season and Liverpool’s change from an all-action approach to a more patient style has perhaps exposed the skipper a bit more who thrives when the game is played at a higher tempo.
The most important thing that cannot be neglected is that Liverpool’s approach to games towards the end of last season coupled with the exertion of the playing in the World Cup has left players with lesser recovery time than they would expect.
Lest we forget, Klopp’s Dortmund struggled with a similar change in setup after the 2014 World Cup and were in the bottom half of the table during the Bundesliga winter break in December.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are the only side who have been able to stand up to Manchester City this season under similar circumstances. Yet, there are a lot of fans who have criticised the German for the change in style.
Game management (Yes, even without Željko Buvač)
Remember Liverpool’s win against Watford at Anfield last season? The Reds won 5-0 in what was a high-octane performance. This season, Klopp’s side played a more cagey game and still ended up winning 3-0 at Vicarage Road.
There were games last season where the Reds perhaps put more effort than they should have. It may have been easy on the eye, but at the end of the day, you get only three points and not more.
“Where’s Buvac?” is something that you’ll find very often on Twitter. But no one has praised the work Pep Lijnders has put in as a first-team coach in helping the side transition from an attack-heavy side to a more balanced team.
It’s odd that a lot of fans pleaded for defensive stability last season. But here we are with Liverpool having the best defence in the league, and all the fans can suddenly think is the attacking thrust of last season.
Liverpool have coped incredibly well with everything that has happened in the last five months. To expect more at this point in time would be criminal.