LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Rafa Benitez's return to Anfield on Boxing Day is likely to stir memories of an unsuccessful Liverpool challenge for the Premier League title, but Jurgen Klopp is trying to focus on the present.
Klopp's Liverpool hold a four-point lead at the top of the table as Benitez, the club's manager between 2004 and 2010, visits with his relegation-threatened Newcastle United side on Wednesday (Dec 26).
There is a strong sense this could be the season that the English league trophy comes to Anfield for the first time since 1990, although recent history is offering mixed messages as to whether that will happen.
First, the good news for Liverpool: In eight of the past 10 seasons, the leaders on Christmas Day have gone on to win the Premier League.
Now, the bad news: On the two occasions it did not happen, the Christmas leaders were Liverpool. In 2008/09, Manchester United won the title; in 2013/14 it was Manchester City.
The late collapse to miss out in 2014 was perhaps the more immediately painful experience for Liverpool fans, but the failure of 2009, under Benitez, maybe offers more reason for regret. Both cases offer lessons that the Merseyside club, however, appear to have absorbed.
Brendan Rodgers' team of 2013/14 were not as balanced as the side current Reds boss Klopp has now.
While Rodgers had an outstanding attacking partnership, with Luis Suarez supported by a fully-fit Daniel Sturridge, his men were defensively suspect.
The then Liverpool manager had four senior centre-backs - Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure - yet struggled to settle on a first-choice pairing. A team who scored 101 league goals conceded a whopping 50; far too many for any side with serious championship ambitions.
The class of 2018/19 should avoid that trap; they have the Premier League's best defensive record this season, with only seven goals conceded.
Virgil van Dijk's influence has been key: the centre-back, signed for £75 million (S$130.5 million) from Southampton last January, has provided the defensive leadership that Liverpool missed badly following Jamie Carragher's retirement in 2013.
"He's very influential," Klopp said of Van Dijk.
"When I met him first, I thought I knew about his personality, I was pretty sure he would be like he is.
"After we lost 4-1 at Tottenham in October of last season, we started defending better and conceding less but then Virgil came in on top." Liverpool's solid defending means they do not have to score as freely to win games, although they are coming up with the goals when needed.
Mohamed Salah, after a quiet start to the season, is thriving after being switched from a wide position to a central attacking role. His total of 11 Premier League goals is only one fewer than Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the competition's leading scorer.
Yet despite that quality, avoiding the fate of the 2008/09 Liverpool team managed by Benitez, might still need a little luck to go the way of Klopp's men.
That side, containing a spine of Pepe Reina, Carragher, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, was strong enough to be champions, but suffered from a lack of adequate back-up.
Too many draws against lowly opponents proved costly too, with Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull all coming away from Anfield with a point.
Certainly, while Liverpool have the versatile attacking talent of Xherdan Shaqiri to call on if they lose one of their main forwards, and good quality options in midfield now that Fabinho and Naby Keita have found their feet, they may struggle if anything happens to Van Dijk. Perhaps that is why Klopp has not ruled out signings in January.
"I keep the door open because if something happens then we will need to have a look, as there are monstrous numbers of games coming and that's really important that we can react," said the German.
"But it's all good, unless something dramatically changes."
Pochettino rues missed opportunity after Sunderland draw. Jason MELLOR. AFP. February 1, 2017. and it was a chance to cut the gap on Chelsea so when you drop two points like tonight then it's
Thibaut Courtois rues Real Madrid's missed chances in
Football: Kane could be out for rest of the season, says
Neymar PSG extension more likely than Madrid switch - father dad laughed off the idea of a switch to Real Madrid or elsewhere and said his son was more likely to
Neymar's father reveals his son is in talks with PSG over a
Guardiola to make late decision on Silva for Palace trip (Reuters) - Manchester City linchpin Bernardo Silva faces a late fitness test before Sunday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, his
China has set out its grand plan to produce one of the world's strongest soccer teams by 2050. The ambitious goal includes interim targets of becoming one of Asia's best teams in the sport by
Rare Earths Battle Looms as U.S. Aims to Tackle China Threat
FAS appoints Australian Palatsides as technical director Koh was speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Albirex and Yuhua Community Sports Club (CSC) at Fuhua
China's retiring central bank chief Zhou tipped for Boao
Author Natasha Tynes sparked outrage on social media after she tweeted a photo of a black Metro employee eating on the train and reported the woman to her bosses. Now, Tynes may lose her book deal
Football: Van de Beek gives Ajax edge over Tottenham in semi
Cheese is big business in the Netherlands, so don't go home without visiting one of Amsterdam's many 'kaas' shops or markets and tasting some Gouda, Geitenkaas or Maasdammer. For an introduction to the most popular Dutch cheeses, stop by the Cheese Museum or one of the Henri Willig Cheese and More shops.
Lesson 2: When God Brings Revival (Luke 1:5-17) | Bible.org
Brighton moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Derby on Saturday. Chris Hughton's side have been sucked into relegation danger in the Premier League after six games without a win.
Brighton edge into FA Cup quarter-finals - Daily Nation
The long trophy streak has, at long last, been broken. After hoovering up all 11 trophies on offer in the previous three seasons, Albirex Niigata finally tasted defeat when Home United triumphed 5
Home United snap Albirex Niigata's title-winning streak
sportslifetale.com/soccer/home-united-snap-albirex-niigatas-title-winning-streak/
The long trophy streak has, at long last, been broken. After hoovering up all 11 trophies on offer in the previous three seasons, Albirex Niigata finally tasted defeat when Home United triumphed 5-4 on penalties to lift the Community Shield last night as the new Singapore Premier League (SPL) season kicked off.
Home United snap Albirex Niigata's title-winning streak
Antoine Griezmann struck again as Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga by beating in-form Getafe 2-0 on Saturday. Griezmann now has eight goals in as many games, his latest helping Atletico register their sixth win in seven league matches. The only dropped points came in a respectable draw away to Sevilla.
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch live streaming of premier league football
soccer tv live net stream
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch live streaming soccer world cup
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch premier league live in stream
watch usa soccer live stream
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch epl live streaming on iphone
tv soccer live stream sky
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch champions league live streaming video
watch premier league live stream hd
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch soccer aid live stream
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch premier league live streaming xbox
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch premier league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming eng
#comico #noelgallagher #bayernmunich #championsleague #footballmeme #chocolate #copaamerica #conference #petercrouch #nikesoccer #oasis #manunited #ballondor #realmadrid #linkstreaming #roadtrip #Liamgallagher #beatifulgame #england #footballstreaming #freekickerz #Barca #meunier #serieatim #nutmeg #livesports #livestreams #messi #arsenalfantv #zidane #footballschedule #livestreaming #ignoranza #Celtic #football #footballdubai #acmilan #mane #coffeebreak #trollfootball #nationsleague #lionelmessi #frasitrap #afcnews #americanfootball #4Series #cr7 #championship #calciatoribrutti #manchestercity #coutinho #boxing #elcasico #frasirap #Barcelona #rugby #sunderlandafc #league2 #ronaldo #tokyo #comics #adidasslipon #liverpoolfc #cappucino #jadwalbolahariini #goodday #uefanationsleague #oasisengland #commentimemorabili #battuteepiche #freekick #manchesterunited #MyDubai #manchestercity #satira #lfc #soccerbible #hotcoffee #oudmehta #thomasmeunier #freekicks #PartyTime #sixtimes
No comments:
Post a Comment