Premier League 2018/19: 3 Factors which have contributed to Liverpool's great run

Liverpool beat Newcastle United 4-0 on Boxing Day to extend their lead over second-placed Tottenham Hotspur to six points. Liverpool now have 51 points from 19 matches and are well on course to their first league win since 1990.

Manchester City’s poor form of late has made the job easier for Jurgen Klopp’s men, who are in terrific form themselves. City slipped to third after they suffered back to back defeats. Liverpool defeated Manchester United 3-1 a few days back to make their intentions clear about title ambitions.

They have drawn a tough opponent in Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League and would have to play really well to get past them. However, they are very much the favorites to win their 19th league title a few months from now.

We would like to take a look at the 3 factors which have which have contributed to Liverpool's great run.

#1 Frenetic pace and skills of their forwards

Liverpool’s front three comprising of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino are exceptionally fast and extremely skilled players. Salah is known for his frenetic pace while dribbling past defenders and Mane also possesses the same abilities.

Firmino has not scored many goals this season, but has been involved in quite a few with his agility and movement inside the opposition penalty box. Salah seems to have regained his Midas touch, which won him the Player of the Year title last season.

He already has 12 goals and six assists in 19 matches in the Premier League this season and continues to be a menace to the opposition defenders. Mane also cuts in from the left flank occasionally and is capable of scoring goals. He has scored 7 goals in the Premier League this season so far. Also, Shaqiri is among the goals.

#2 Xherdan Shaqiri is playing a much bigger role than many anticipated

Shaqiri is one of Liverpool’s new signings this season but did not start many games at the beginning. He used to come in as a substitute and play as a wide forward. However, Liverpool’s creative shortcomings in the midfield have propelled Klopp to start him as a central attacking midfielder and the results have been immediate.

Shaqiri has scored three goals in Liverpool's last three games in the Premier League and also provided some crucial passes too. He has been playing as the playmaker and providing those crucial balls to the forwards.

His presence in the final third is making a lot of difference for Liverpool. When Liverpool signed him, many expected him to play the role of a super-sub but Shaqiri proved them wrong. He is a key player for Jurgen Klopp in the title race.

#3 Very good bench-strength

Liverpool also have the adequate depth in their squad and Klopp can always afford to fall back to the resources available to him on the bench. Liverpool have defenders like Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, and Gomez can play both as a right-back and a centre-back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, the young fullbacks who start usually, have both been exceptional for the Reds this season. To fill in the three positions in the midfield, Klopp has at least six players to choose from as each one of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Giorgio Wijnaldaum, James Milner, Nabi Keita, and Shaqiri.

Fabinho has been exceptionally good in the last few matches and actually pushed Milner to the sidelines. Henderson, the seasoned campaigner, has found it difficult to make to the starting line-up often and this goes on to show the problem of plenty that Klopp would love to have.

Moreover, Liverpool also have Daniel Sturridge who can be used as a backup striker. All in all, Liverpool have the essential bench-strength to genuinely compete for the title this season.