Liverpool continue to dominate but can the midfield improve?

Liverpool tasted Champions League glory once again as they lifted the European Cup for the sixth time at the end of last season. It was a season to remember for Klopp and his men.

With 12 wins and 1 draw in 13 Premier League games, they have carried on from where they left off last season. Since losing away to Manchester City in January 2019, Liverpool have not lost a single game in the league, with the run now extending to 30 games. In absolute terms, it is more than three quarters of a league season. Such has been their momentum that they're already 9 points clear of City, thought to be their main contenders for the title.

After losing to Napoli on Matchday 1 of the Champions League, the Reds responded with three consecutive wins to end Matchday 4 on top of Group E. A draw against Napoli at Anfield means they must avoid defeat at Red Bull Salzburg on Matchday 6. Haaland's form notwithstanding, this Liverpool side should get the job done.

It is interesting to note that after such a successful season, the only player to come in who could be termed as a first-team signing was Adrian from West Ham, as a backup to Alisson. It has proven to be a good buy already with Alisson's injury and Adrian doing an acceptable job in his stead. Klopp and his staff decided to keep faith with the current squad and improve them rather than fixing what isn't broken. So far, it has worked like a charm.

The Reds have also come from behind and scored goals right at the death to earn a result, much to their fans' pleasure and their rivals' exasperation. It is down to Klopp's methods in training; giving them impossible match situations to overcome on a regular basis ensures the likelihood of the team responding accordingly when it really matters. The results are clear for all to see.

As colossal as Virgil van Dijk has been, Liverpool have continued playing well due to their front three and the full-backs, arguably the best pair in England at the moment. It has been noted that Liverpool have had a workmanlike midfield in Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum, the three together providing a solid foundation for the rest to thrive.

This notion does a disservice to the key role they play in how the Reds function as a team. Klopp has used transitions to devastating effect ever since his time at Borussia Dortmund. With the full-backs pushing up, this midfield has ensured that they don't get a taste of their own medicine. Pressing and positioning themselves in such a way which plugs gaps that arise due to others pushing forward, they provide balance and stability to the team in case they lose the ball in an unfavourable situation. Fabinho's rise and presence at the base of midfield has added some guile, even if it is not his primary role.

While it has worked well so far, it was believed that the signing of Naby Keita would make them even better. Klopp and Michael Edwards undoubtedly did their homework before splashing out more than £50 million to sign him. During his time at RB Leipzig, he was in the top 5 in the league for offensive as well as defensive contributions. It is extremely rare for a good playmaker to be as good a ball-winner and vice versa. He was expected to add another dimension to the side and make a difference by helping unlocking teams set up in a deep block. While the transfer has not worked out so far, neither the club nor the player are going to give up just yet. In Klopp, he has the right manager to still be able to come good. At 24, he does h age on his side.

Regardless of whether Keita comes good or not, Liverpool got it exactly right with the profile of the midfielder. Tidy on the ball, effective at winning it back and possessing a good engine, such a midfielder is tailor-made for the high energy system currently in place.

Football is cyclical and the Reds would do well to keep improving. By the time their domestic and European rivals figure out a method to counter the current system, they will have upgraded already, thus prolonging their reign as one of the top sides in the European game.

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