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Relentless Liverpool raise bar for title rivals
LONDON, Oct 2, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Liverpool are only three games into their
Premier League title defence but their stuttering rivals must get their acts
together if they are going to prevent an Anfield procession.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have answered any questions about their appetite for
more success after winning the club’s first English title for 30 years.
Following their chaotic opening win against Leeds, Liverpool have reeled
off a pair of impressive victories against Chelsea and Arsenal to extend
their perfect start to the season.
A slightly below-par defensive effort against Leeds seems to have sharpened
Liverpool’s focus.
They were back to their ruthless best as they dispatched big-spending
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before brushing aside Arsenal after the Gunners
had the temerity to take the lead at Anfield.
The additions of Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota have given Liverpool even
more thrust and poise in midfield and attack — an ominous thought given the
Reds scored 85 goals in 38 league games last season.
Ahead of their trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, Klopp insisted he expects
Liverpool to be pushed all the way to the finish line.
“It’s an open race, Chelsea will be there, United will be there, Arsenal,
Tottenham, these teams will always be there,” said Klopp.
“There are tough moments for us and other teams and it’s about how you
react and are you doing it in the right way?
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and you have to go through a lot of
moments. I have no idea who will win but I know a lot of teams will try.”
But, in private, Klopp must be well aware that Liverpool’s bid to
successfully defend the title for the first time since 1984 will be greatly
enhanced if their challengers cannot address their own shortcomings.
– Fatal flaws –
Manchester City finished 18 points behind Liverpool in second place last
term and the early signs suggest they have not done enough to close the gap.
While it was only one match, last Sunday’s embarrassing 5-2 home defeat
against Leicester exposed several of the problems that contributed to the end
of City’s two-year reign as champions.
Pep Guardiola’s swoop for Benfica centre-back Ruben Dias this week was a
damning admission that the close-season signing of Bournemouth defender
Nathan Ake alone was not enough to plug the holes in his leaky defence.
A lack of cutting edge proved fatal in City’s shock Champions League
quarter-final loss to Lyon last season. With Sergio Aguero still recovering
from knee surgery, City again failed to turn territorial dominance into a
knockout blow against Leicester.
If City, who face an intriguing clash at Leeds on Saturday, look
compromised, the same can be said for Manchester United after their erratic
start.
Beaten 3-1 by Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in a woeful opening game, Ole
Gunner Solskjaer’s side needed a 100th-minute penalty to escape Brighton with
a 3-2 victory.
Solskjaer relied on the influence of Bruno Fernandes to revive United after
the Portugal playmaker’s arrival from Sporting Lisbon in January, but it is
the defence that looks most vulnerable at present.
Chelsea’s spending spree of around œ220 million ($283 million) was supposed
to help Frank Lampard’s men close the gap to Liverpool after they finished 33
points adrift last season.
In the early stages of integrating Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva,
Ben Chilwell and Edouard Mendy, Lampard’s Chelsea laboured to victory at
Brighton before being outclassed by Liverpool.
Fighting back from three goals down to draw at West Bromwich Albion was
encouraging for their team spirit but a worrying sign of their defensive
weakness.
Arsenal are clearly improved, but it is too early for Mikel Arteta’s FA Cup
winners to overhaul Liverpool, while Tottenham’s squad look short of quality
and depth.
That leaves Leicester, the early table-toppers after three successive wins,
and Everton, who also have a 100 percent record.
Yet even the most optimistic fans at the King Power Stadium and Goodison
Park would surely struggle to see their teams finishing above the Liverpool
machine.
Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)
Saturday
Chelsea v Crystal Palace (1130), Everton v Brighton (1400), Leeds v
Manchester City (1630), Newcastle v Burnley (1900)
Sunday
Leicester v West Ham (1100), Southampton v West Brom (1100), Arsenal v
Sheffield United (1300), Wolves v Fulham (1300), Manchester United v
Tottenham (1530), Aston Villa v Liverpool (1815)
BSS/AFP/GMR/0931 hrs