Premier League 2019-20: 3 things that could derail Liverpool's title run this season

Anup R
Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp

It's 11 games into the new season of the Premier league and Liverpool have started the season on fire. The Reds are the only unbeaten team in the league this season with 10 wins and a draw in their opening 11 fixtures.

Jurgen Klopp has assembled a champion side, and the Kopites would be hopeful that the team would end their 30-year wait for the league title. With the start that Liverpool have made already, their fans are starting to believe that it's finally their year.

But it's not that easy to win a Premier League title in this era, as Liverpool found out last season. Even after amassing a club record 97 points, Liverpool fell short by one point to reigning champions Manchester City.

City are so relentless that it would need a gigantic effort from Liverpool again this season to topple Guardiola's men from the top. As Liverpool welcome Manchester City at Anfield this Sunday, we take a look at the top 3 things that could derail Liverpool's title run this season.

#3 Lack of creativity from midfield

Wijnaldum and Henderson
Wijnaldum and Henderson

Klopp has deployed a conservative midfield of Fabinho-Henderson-Wijnaldum for the majority of this season. While all three players help Liverpool to wrest control in the middle of the park, Liverpool's attacking returns are reliant on their prolific front 3 of Mane, Salah and Firmino and their 2 rampaging full backs Robertson and Alexander-Arnold.

Fabinho is yet to get on the scoresheet for Liverpool, while Henderson and Wijnaldum have only one goal apiece so far this season. Neither Henderson nor Wijnaldum has managed to provide an assist this season, while Fabinho has only one assist to his name.

The only other midfielders to get on the scoresheet for Liverpool this season are James Milner (via a penalty against Leicester) and Adam Lallana (with a late goal against United).

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has emerged as a decent option in recent times that can resolve this issue to a certain extent, but he is yet to gain Klopp's trust to start every week. The German would hope that his midfielders can contribute more in terms of attacking returns and ease the pressure on Mane, Salah and Firmino.

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#2 Risk of injuries to top players

Liverpool's important players
Liverpool's important players

Liverpool's starting XI is one of the best in Europe. But imagine Virgil van Dijk getting injured at a crucial time of the season and sidelined for a number of matches. Do Liverpool have the quality and depth in squad to replace the Dutchman in defense?

Full backs are so vital for Liverpool's game, yet there are no obvious replacements for Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, if they were to pick up long term injuries. What if one of their front three are sidelined for a long time? Would Liverpool's attack still be the same?

Klopp does not have riches in his squad like Pep Guardiola does. Man City played a majority of last season without Kevin de Bruyne and still managed 98 points in the season. Can Liverpool do the same without a Mo Salah or a Sadio Mane?

Klopp would hope that his key players stay fit, otherwise it is going to be a challenge for Liverpool.

#1 History is against Liverpool

Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard

Now, this is something that the current squad are not to be blamed for - Liverpool have not managed to win the league title for 30 years.

It's not that they have not come close to winning one. Rafa Benitez's Liverpool side finished second to Manchester United in 2008-09, Brendan Rodgers took Liverpool to the cusp of history in 2013-14, and Klopp came close to delivering the title last season. But every single time, Liverpool have slipped at crucial junctures.

Rodgers' team led the Premier League table with three games remaining, only for the infamous Steven Gerrard slip against Chelsea to cost them the title. Last season Liverpool had a 10-point lead in January, but blew it away as City pipped them to the title by one point.

So if Klopp's men are to achieve the incredible, they will have to fight history. The German will hope that last season's experience will hold the squad in good stead and overcome any nervous energy that creeps in as the talk of a first league title in 30 years grows louder.

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Edited by Musab Abid