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#2 - Team balance
Although the terrifying front trio of Salah-Mane-Firminho has been ripping apart defenses since early last season, one of the primary reasons why Liverpool ended the season a distant fourth was their leaky defense.
Liverpool had conceded more than 20 goals by the end of December 2017 last season. In stark comparison, they have conceded only eight goals so far this season. That speaks volumes about van Dijk's influence on the team after he joined the team mid-way last season. Liverpool conceded little more than 20 goals this calendar year after the arrival of Van Dijk.
Fast-forward to present, Liverpool has a balanced team now. Watching Liverpool play is bliss these days. Everyone from the goalkeeper to the defense all the way up to the strikers via the midfielders functions like a well-oiled machine.
