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After a gap of nine years, Liverpool returned to the Champions League knockout scene and how! The Reds put five past Porto in the first leg of the round of 16 tie and could complete the rout at Anfield in a fortnight.
Over the last 7-8 years, Liverpool's performances have not been up to the mark barring maybe a couple of seasons. But that was then and this is now. Liverpool have got one of the most eccentric managers at the helm.
A guy who is unfazed by the technicality of Guardiola and the shrewdness of Mourinho. Jürgen Klopp has changed the attitude and identity of the club over the last two and a half years.
Critics often point out to the lack of trophies but they forget that he took Liverpool to two finals out of which one was decided on penalties and in the other, Liverpool collapsed after leading. But this is his chance to set everything right.
So here I am going to give you 5 reasons why Liverpool can lift the champions league in May...
#1 Current form
Liverpool's current form is interesting. While it is not perfect, thanks to consecutive defeats at the hands of Swansea and West Brom, Klopp's side find themselves in an ideal situation. They are not in any bubble of invincibility which helps them realise that if they are not at their best, they can be defeated.
Klopp knows that there is a way of upsetting the flair of his side as a team by making your team sit back and let Liverpool have possession. But even those games are pretty rare as the Reds often find a way past even the meanest of defences. They have been on quite a roll, especially in the big games, with their last defeat to a top 6 rival coming 4 months ago in October.
They are not only firmly in the top 4 race but are also pushing Manchester United for second place. The Reds have won the second most away matches in the Premier League and they also have been unbeaten at Anfield in the league. In the last 4 months, Jürgen Klopp's side have only lost twice; once to Swansea and the second defeat came in the FA Cup to West Brom.
They also are the only team to beat Manchester City in the league. Unlike previous seasons, Liverpool's points tally is not heavily dependent on their home form but also their away form as they registered victories at Southampton and Burnley where the Reds have struggled in the past.
#2 Attacking flair
The loss of Coutinho was a big one especially in the middle of the season but the Liverpool attack has coped very well. Liverpool this season have played most of their matches comfortably without an out and out forward. Unlike last season where a lot of critics pointed out Liverpool's ability to finish in the final third, this season has been a major improvement.
Although Sadio Mane has not been at his consistent best, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino have really stepped up which has given Mane time to find form while also contributing through goals and assists if not complete performances over the span of a full game.
Salah has absolutely stood out in terms of contribution but no one can deny the work rate and effort Firmino puts in which allows Salah to make those runs. Salah has scored 30 goals in the season already while Roberto Firmino has touched the 20-goal mark already. While Sadio Mane might not be the player he was last season, he has still amassed 12 goals, including a hat-trick in the recent win over Porto.
The trio has been lethal during the season and it is not dependent on any single player but is a team effort within the team where if one attacker has an off day, the others fill in for him. All in all, it is a team effort which makes Liverpool a threat to any team in the world.
#3 Ability to bounce back
We saw it vs Norwich, we saw it vs Dortmund and we have seen it multiple times vs Arsenal. This team does not know how to give up. Liverpool have shown that they do not go away without a fight and even more so when it’s a European tie.
Liverpool are no Real Madrid (2016-17) when it comes to bouncing back but they are a very good example of how persistence pays off. This is what Klopp demands and his energy drives the players forward. Liverpool know very well they have got the firepower to dismantle any defence even if they go behind early.
The attitude of the team is incredible and considering they have someone like Jurgen Klopp on the touchline, it shouldn't really be a surprise.
#4 The defending is starting to improve
This is bound to raise some eyebrows but actually, Liverpool have strengthened their defence. The additions of Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk have made them a more cohesive unit at the back.
Klopp now has a lot of options to choose from, unlike previous seasons where Milner had to play left-back to make up for the poor performances of Alberto Moreno. But now that’s not the case.
In the right-back position, Klopp will have three options to choose from once Nathaniel Clyne is fit. Since the German has taken over Liverpool, the most number of clean sheets Liverpool managed in the Premier League was 12, which was last season. This season, the Reds already have 11 clean sheets.
Karius has looked good and has also earned Klopp's confidence vote. Now what remains to be seen is how this defence copes when it matters the most.
#5 Jürgen Klopp
Managers play a very big role in not only the on-field performance but also the off-field conduct. Klopp is the master at just that. He, as mentioned above, has almost single-handedly changed the whole identity of the team.
He has not only instilled confidence in the players but also fans. He excels when the stakes are high and his record vs the top 6 over last two seasons is a testament to this. Under Klopp, Liverpool have played over 20 games vs top 6 rivals and have only lost 3 times.
Klopp is one of the few top-flight managers to have a better head to head record vs Pep Guardiola. Klopp also betters Mourinho who has only won once vs Klopp in 8 games. He is also yet to lose to Conte in 3 meetings with 2 draws and 1 one win for the German. Finally, Klopp also has a better record vs Pochettino with 2 wins as compared to Argentinian's 1.
If Liverpool get to the next round, they would not mind playing a fellow English team. What is surprising is that Klopp also holds the edge over Jupp Heynckes with 5 wins to his 4. So it is clear that Klopp has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and can adjust according to different styles of the managers.
Liverpool are a side which quite a few teams would like to avoid. Thanks to Klopp, they are ready to become the force they once were.
It is a long road for Liverpool but nothing significant is achieved without hard work and persistence and the 5-time European Champions are back to reclaim their beloved Champions League.
