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Can Liverpool Make the Leap to Greatness in 2018-2019?

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Liverpool have entered the 2018-2019 season as a hot commodity, with plenty of football fans and pundits alike expecting another strong season from the Reds. The problem for Liverpool, though, is that a strong season may not be enough to defeat the historically good Manchester City in the Premier League title race. With so much pressure on Jurgen Klopp’s side, can they use that pressure to fuel themselves to greatness, or will they fall behind the pace like they did last season?

Of course, Liverpool and the club’s supporters will feel good about the fact that they have Mo Salah and Sadio Mane to lead an attack that can be as good or better than that of City on any given day. Salah became the story of the Premier League last season with his ability to score at will, and he is at the top of the list of contenders for the Golden Boot in the Premier League this season, according to Premier League top goalscorer odds from William Hill.

They proved last year that the attack can be better than that of City in particular when they hammered City over two legs of Champions League knockout stage play. That success only has furthered the team’s belief that City are not invincible. But a team that can be the most dangerous on its day is one thing. Being consistently dangerous game in and game out is another.

For Liverpool, depth is what can separate them from the likes of City and is something that the team will want to work on if they are going to truly announce themselves as title contenders this season. Whereas City can win matches bringing elite players like Riyad Mahrez off the bench or leaving Kevin De Bruyne off the squad entirely, Liverpool isn’t always a team that can say the same if they are without the likes of Salah or Mane. Salah’s importance was underlined in the Champions League Final, where Liverpool just couldn’t keep up with the high-powered attack of Real Madrid once Salah went down.

Liverpool will be stronger in goal this season, or at least hope to after making Brazilian keeper Alisson the most expensive keeper in the world. That move came at the expense of last year’s keeper Loris Karius, who may be loaned out as both he and the club looks to move on from a season that turned sour for him after his mistakes in the Champions League Final. Against teams like City who will pepper the opposing goal with shots, that move could be a huge difference maker.

With two of the most dangerous attacking players in the world, a goalkeeper that is expected to change the team, and one of the best managers in all of football, Liverpool should be an excellent side this year. But in order to make the jump from an excellent side to a trophy-winning team, they will have to see players who are not Salah, Mane, and Firmino step up and fill in the gaps.

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