It’s fair to say that it’s a great time to be a Liverpool fan right now. With a top-class manager in Jürgen Klopp and the best squad in recent years doing amazingly well, Liverpool fans are flying high. Liverpool have had a stellar 2018/19 season so far and are currently top of the Premier League.
It is now almost 30 years since they won a league title, and few Reds fans can forget how close Brendan Rodgers’ team got in 2014. However, many soccer pundits believe that this is the year that the title will finally come home. Few Liverpool fans would disagree with this at the moment.
Of course, all this excitement may get too much for Reds fans around the world at times. After all, the prospect of winning the league title is intoxicating after many years without it, and you may feel the need to take a step back and relax before the last push towards the end of the season. Many fans may find ways to relax by playing games such as FIFA or even throwing a bit of money on a casino game such as those at SugarHouse Casino, but the Premier League race will always be in the back of their minds – so how did Liverpool reach this point?
What have Liverpool done right in 18/19?
There is no doubt that Klopp’s Liverpool have always been in the mix, but this year feels different. There is no longer hope but a real belief that they can stay on top of the league to triumph overall. What is behind this change in perspective?
Firstly, they have continued to excel going forward. Klopp’s high-energy pressing game and swift counter-attacks are effective still, and Liverpool net lots of goals. This gives them the perfect platform to win games. Star men Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané are the main reasons why they have been so successful.
However, this was already true in seasons gone by. It is the addition of a solid defense that has really helped them this season and could be the main factor in picking up the points to stay in first place. The big story in terms of an improved Liverpool defense is center-back Virgil van Dijk. His talent and leadership have really helped, as has the form of full-back Andrew Robertson.
Can Liverpool hold on to top spot in the Premier League?
The big question for you as a Liverpool fan is, can Klopp’s side keep going and hang on for the title? Here are some reasons why it could happen:
- Klopp is a winner – put simply, Klopp knows what it takes to win league titles. He did it twice when at Dortmund, and this experience will be vital. He will be able to keep the players calm and guide them in the right direction to get the job done. This should be enough to see Liverpool remain on top of the league and get over the line.
- Not many games left – the more time passes with Liverpool on top of the table, the more chance they will stay there. With fewer and fewer games to play, nearest rivals Manchester City and Tottenham may simply run out of time to catch them. If Liverpool continue to play well and win, then this could be the biggest factor in them staying first.
- Other teams struggling – there is no doubt that Manchester City are the biggest threat to Liverpool’s lead, but City have struggled at times this season. If Pep Guardiola’s men slip to another couple of losses during the run-in, this could see Liverpool out of sight by season’s end. The next biggest threat to their lead is probably Tottenham, but injuries to key men Harry Kane and Dele Alli may have come at the worst time for them.
- Decent run-in – the other big factor that could see Liverpool remain on top is the fairly easy fixtures they have left to play. Of the top teams, they only play Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United. The remaining games are against teams they should beat, such as Watford, Huddersfield and Fulham. This could see them pick up the points needed to keep out of reach.
Will Liverpool hold on?
While the signs look good for Liverpool to hold on, you can never be 100% sure! With Manchester City closing the points gap recently, they need to keep winning and open their lead out again. If they can keep their main players fit and firing on all cylinders, then it looks likely that they will remain on top and win the title.
