Looking at the Positives & Negatives of Liverpool's Season So Far

​Liverpool have been absolutely sensational so far this season, winning 11 of their opening 12 Premier League games which has resulted in them having a massive eight-point lead at the top of the table already.

After accumulating 97 points last season and somehow still not winning the league – due to the brilliance of Manchester City - Jurgen Klopp’s side have bounced back from this disappointment in spectacular fashion this term.

Victory over City on November 10th - in a game in which Liverpool had far too much pace, intensity and quality in attack for their rivals - has opened up a nine-point gap between the two sides, with Leicester City and Chelsea now the closest challengers in second and third.

It does finally feel that Liverpool’s wait for a Premier League title will come to an end in May, and it will if they continue to play and grind out results as they are currently doing.

Here then below, are the positives of the season so far and just because even the best can still make improvements, one negative to address is thrown in as well.

Positive - Never Say Die Attitude

A crucial characteristic of any successful side who have won ​Premier League titles in years gone by is the ability to grab goals late on. Take Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United of old as your main example of a team who scored late goal after late goal, season after season in the most crucial of moments, with Federico Macheda’s swivel and finish against Aston Villa in second half injury time in April 2009 just one that stands out in the memory.

Liverpool are doing just this so far this campaign, turning draws into wins. At Anfield in October, Leicester looked certain to pick up a point when James Maddison equalised ten minutes from time only for James Milner to sweep the ball home from the penalty spot five minutes into added time after Sadio Mane had been fouled.

Then, at the start of November, the Reds were set to be left frustrated by Aston Villa with Klopp’s side trailing 1-0 with only four minutes to go. Yet again though, goals from Andrew Robertson and Sadio Mane in the final moments turned the game on its head and kept Liverpool’s unbeaten record intact.

This ability to go to the end and the clear belief amongst the squad that they will eventually find a way through and score is an attribute title winning teams have and boy do Liverpool have it.

Positive - Anfield Factor

​Not just this season but over the last couple, ​Liverpool have been magnificent when playing at Anfield in the Premier League. Last term they won 17 of their 19 home games, drawing the other two and since August they have continued in similar manner, winning all six of their opening games at Anfield. 

In fact, you would have to go back to April 2017 when they last lost at home in the Premier League, a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. It is simply a fortress.

This home form, which has already seen them beat Manchester City and Leicester as well as north London duo Tottenham and Arsenal at Anfield this season, is helping them greatly towards their desired prize which is the Premier League trophy.

Positive - The Majestic Front Three

​The Liverpool front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have come in for praise frequently over the last 18 months, and it is very much deserved.

All three add different qualities to the team’s attack, with Mane agile and dynamic, Salah rapid and deadly with Firmino the glue linking it all together with his hold up play and vision.

Right now, they are arguably the best attacking trio in the world, and when firing at full capacity – which they have done for large periods this season - then no team stands a chance against them.

Between them they have 16 Premier League goals and eight assists so far this campaign. Among just the three of them they have scored as many goals as ​Manchester United have as a side and Arsenal which puts into perspective just how brilliant they are.

Negative – Shipping Goals 

​While everything is clearly pretty rosy in the red half of Merseyside at the moment, there is just one area that Klopp will want to improve in and that is at the back.

Although Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson have been pretty good so far this season - with both full backs in particular demonstrating excellent quality in the final third - the Reds have kept just two clean sheets in the league so far, with both coming away against Sheffield United and Burnley.

Although the injury to keeper Alisson Becker for the first two months may have played a part in this, Klopp will be concerned that his side look more vulnerable than they did last year. If City had put their shooting boots on in their recent clash, then it could have been a very different outcome as Liverpool’s backline were carved open numerous times.

Although they have shipped only ten goals so far, which is the third best record in the division, they only conceded 22 in the whole of last season and if they continue at the current rate, they will bypass this by February. 

Klopp will therefore be eager to tighten up in the coming weeks to relieve the pressure on the attacking players.