Liverpool will be hoping to out in a better display against City than they did against Palace two weeks ago
Such was Liverpool’s difficult start to the season, one manager has left and another has arrived, with Jurgen Klopp replacing previous incumbent Brendan Rodgers.
Whilst the form at Anfield has been patchy, the intimidating away games, spat out one after another by the fixture computer in June, have dictated Liverpool’s stop-start campaign thus far.
With the international break over (including a moving tribute to the awful attacks in Paris at the England friendly against France) Premier League football returns this weekend, and the schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Reds, as they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
In general Jurgen Klopp’s start to life at Anfield has been positive, especially off the pitch, but on it any momentum that was building halted in the defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield – therefore Liverpool should be desperate to at least produce an improved display when playing the league leaders.
Once the trip to Manchester is out of the way, the fixture list looks brighter, although no game is easy, as Southampton, Norwich City, West Ham and Crystal Palace have all proven at Anfield. Moreover, progressing further in the League Cup will be extremely difficult given the draw for early December – away to Southampton – and the Reds have only enjoyed mixed results when travelling to face Newcastle in the north-east.
Nonetheless, with upcoming games against Swansea City, West Brom and Watford in the next month, December presents an opportunity for Liverpool to add consistency into their season and build up a head of steam under Klopp going into the January transfer window, where a couple of additions could give the squad an added boost in the hunt for a top four place.
Ahead of the Manchester City clash, let’s look at how Liverpool have performed in their opening six away games in the league, where the Reds have claimed nine points from a possible eighteen – an impressive return given the quality of the opponents:
9 August – Stoke 0 Liverpool 1:
Liverpool began their season in the best possible away – with three points and a clean sheet. It was hardly pleasing on the eye, but Rodgers’ side battled hard against a side which hammered them 6-1 on the final day of last season at a ground which the Reds never experience much success.
However, on this occasion a magical strike late on from Philippe Coutinho settled the match in Liverpool’s favour, with their defensive organization proving surprisingly fruitful.
Revenge was achieved for last May, and Liverpool won for just the second time at the Britannia since Stoke City returned to the Premier League in 2008.
24 August – Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0:
After six points from six and two clean sheets, Liverpool looked confident and showed it at the Emirates Stadium in an impressive, yet also disappointing, draw against Arsenal.
Lucas leads the celebrations as Liverpool took the points against Chelsea
Impressive in avoiding defeat at one of the toughest grounds, especially for Liverpool, who have only won once since the stadium opened in 2006, but disappointing because the Reds utterly dominated the first half and could have been out of sight, although Arsenal were the better side in the second half and Aaron Ramsey was controversially denied a goal for offside.
Petr Cech was incredible in denying the likes of Coutinho and Christian Benteke, while Liverpool’s defence continue their (brief) revival with a third clean sheet in succession. Overall it was an excellent point and a great start to the season, although it would soon begin to nosedive.
12 September – Manchester United 3 Liverpool 1:
Returning after the international break after defeat to West Ham, a disastrous loss to Manchester United was a bitter pill to swallow. Not so much the defeat, but the manner of the performance will have especially angered the Liverpool support, who expect to at least see the team go down fighting against their biggest rivals.
Rodgers’ tactics were questionable, with both Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings being played out wide and both unsurprisingly struggled playing out of position. Benteke’s wonder goal brought Liverpool back into the game after Daley Blind and Ander Herrera had given United a firm lead, but Anthony Martial’s debut goal gave the hosts the win they deserved.
Losing 3-0 at Old Trafford last season was unfortunate as the Reds could have easily left with a draw had they brought their shooting boots, but this time round Liverpool didn’t bring anything. Instead, they left with many questions to answer after a bright beginning to the season.
4 October – Everton 1 Liverpool 1:
Any Merseyside derby is significant, but this one will carry an extra dimension into Liverpool’s history books as it marked Rodgers’ final game as Liverpool manager.
The match itself was uninspiring, with Ings continuing his promising form with a headed goal before a typical defensive lapse allowed Romelu Lukaku to equalize before both sides cancelled each other out in the second half and the fixture petered out.
Liverpool played well, but again lacked the cutting edge that has been their downfall since the title challenge of 2013/14. When combined with the defensive mistakes that characterized Rodgers’ reign, it was always going to be tough for the Northern Irishman and so it proved, with his departure leading to Klopp’s arrival.
17 October – Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0:
Liverpool’s first game under Klopp was no cakewalk – a trip to Tottenham. It’s been an up and down ground for the Reds – struggling against Harry Redknapp’s sides before winning the last five league games prior to this encounter by an aggregate score of 18-4.
The opening 20 minutes looked set to follow that recent pattern as Liverpool burst out of the blocks, dominating and pressing so intensely that, whilst impressive, it nearly cost them in the end as Tottenham gained more and more control as the match went on.
Liverpool’s players were understandably looking to impress the new manager by showing their willingness to adapt to his methods, but more time was (and still is) needed to get the balance of pressing right.
Defensively they immediately looked improved from the Rodgers era, especially with Simon Mignolet making a number of impressive saves, but the amount of pressing meant the Liverpool forwards had barely any energy to create anything when they did win the ball, with creativity continuing to be a problem.
The improvement under Klopp have been noticeable so far but the team will want to kick on after the international break
31 October – Chelsea 1 Liverpool 3:
Easily Liverpool’s most impressive result thus far this season, home or away. Yes Chelsea were brittle and offered little after scoring early on through Ramires, but Liverpool still had to win themselves, to score goals, something which is a struggle for them.
However, Coutinho proved the difference with two fine goals, while substitute Benteke finished Jose Mourinho’s side off near the end. It was a brilliant performance, and the first major win of the Klopp era.
Both Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel were magnificent, keeping Chelsea at bay whenever they did threaten, while Firmino was lively, Lucas Leiva was utterly resolute (and a bit fortunate!) and Jordon Ibe and Benteke impressed when they came on.
Even though the season hasn’t been hugely successful so far, Liverpool fans can look back on the moment when Jurgen Klopp became Liverpool manager and when the Reds recorded their first ever away win over Mourinho’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
