'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A generation has passed since Liverpool lifted the title and became league champions in 1990. In football, that is a really long time ago. A lot has happened since then. During that period, we have witnessed Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United become a European powerhouse, Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles going through an entire season without defeat and Leicester City’s miraculous fairytale season.
On top of that, Liverpool’s lethal front three of Mane, Firmino and Salah hadn’t even been born yet at that time.
Liverpool came agonizingly close to the prize on a few occasions. The most recent was when an unfortunate Steven Gerrard slip demoralized their title charge when they were within touching distance of the eventual champions Manchester City.
However, they have looked the real deal this season and have had their best ever start in the Premier League. They have played 19 games without defeat, winning 16 in the process. Liverpool is currently top of the league table leading Tottenham Hotspur by 6 points and Manchester City by seven. There is a strong sense of optimism in the air that this could finally be their year.
As the season approaches Christmas, we take a look at three reasons as to why Liverpool will win the league ahead of their rivals.
#3 The meanest defence in the League
Sir Alex Ferguson once said that attack wins you games but defence wins you titles. That is absolutely correct. Great champions have always had success with a rock solid defence as the spine of the team. Liverpool currently moves in that direction as they boast the best defensive record in the league. They have conceded a meagre seven goals this season ahead of their rivals City who have let in thirteen.
Liverpool’s back four have done an amazing job this season. The Emergence of young full-backs in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson has added a cutting edge to their back line. However, it is the acquisition of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton that has proved a masterstroke. The Dutchman is a born leader who has organized the defence and has formed a formidable partnership with the promising Joe Gomez.
No team has kept more clean sheets than Liverpool this season and that is all thanks to Alisson Becker. The Brazilian who came in from Roma during the summer has kept 12 clean sheets, more than any other goalkeeper in the league. The club is also yet to concede more than one goal per game which is a hugely impressive stat.
#2 Bigger summer signings
Summer signings are likely to become crucial over different periods of the season. Liverpool flexed their financial muscles during the transfer window to great extents this summer. The departments in which the squad has been deficient has been addressed by Klopp.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker came in from Roma for a club record fee. So far, the Brazilian has repaid every single penny of his fee to the club. He has a save percentage rate of 85.7% which is the best in the league.
The talented Naby Keita has brought a burst of energy to the team while Fabinho who was brought from Monaco has added steel to the midfield. Both players initially struggled but they have now settled in very nicely. The excellent Xerdan Shaqiri has given the attack a new dimension. He has scored five goals and chipped in two assists so far this season.
Manchester City, in contrast, bought in Riyad Mahrez for a club record fee. They are a bit light in defensive midfield as they failed to bring in a cover for Fernadinho. In attack, Sergio Aguero doesn’t have any true competition. An Injury to him could prove costly. This factor could very well determine the fate of the title race as the season goes on.
#3 The Klopp factor
Liverpool looked out of sorts three years ago and was literally a club in crisis under Brendan Rodgers. Enter Jurgen Klopp and the club has never looked back since. Out of nothing, the charismatic German was able to stabilize the team he had inherited while tactically injecting his own philosophy to the squad.
Klopp has totally transformed the way his players play and think. The Liverpool squad now has the ability to express themselves with blistering attacking football to the detriment of their opponents. They are currently the most feared team in England at the moment and that is thanks to Jurgen Klopp.
The club now has a manager that is passionate and energetic. He is a coach who pays attention to even the smallest of details and always drives the team forward with the desire to win. Klopp has the experience in winning titles. He has demonstrated this with emphatic back-to-back Bundesliga crowns with Dortmund and this could give Liverpool the edge over City by the end of the season.
