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."
Australia, after a shocking loss to Jordan in the opener, aim to spring back to keep their chances alive in the Asian Cup. Image Credit: AP Al Ain: Australia must adapt to the defensive style of
Asian Cup 2019: Australia vs Jordan result, goals, highlights
New kids strike for Azzurri. Moise Kean celebrating scoring Italy's second goal against Finland on Saturday. Like Mario Balotelli, the 19-year-old is born to African parents and as Cristiano
The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News
SINGAPORE: The Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) new technical director Joseph Palatsides hopes to translate Singapore's "culture of excellence" to football and wants to do it by building
New FAS technical director aims to awake 'sleeping giant'
'It was my honour to work for the late and much loved Khun Vichai': Sacked Claude Puel pays tribute to tragic Leicester City owner. Leicester City sacked Claude Puel as manager after 4-1 defeat by
And once again, it was Saleh who tormented the Lions when he calmly stroked home the winning kick. Still, the Lions, under caretaker coach Nazri Nasir, bowed out with their heads held high as the team tried to take the game to the pacy and technically superior Omanis.
'Give Nazri Nasir the Lions job full-time' - SPORTS247.MY
LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea suffered a setback in their push for a Champions League spot when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley in the Premier League on Monday and tempers flared at the end of the match when Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri was sent to the stands. Jeff Hendrick gave Burnley
Liverpool vs. Porto score: Firmino, Keita give Reds comfortable advantage in Champions League quarterfinals It was a strong result for the Reds who also got a couple big saves from Alisson
Liverpool vs. FC Porto - Football Match Report - April 9
May 31, 2019 · Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been appointed head coach at Internazionale, the Serie A side have announced. The 49-year-old returns to management having been sacked by the Blues at the
REPORT: Antonio Conte Becomes New Inter Milan Manager
If opener bids a new suit higher ranking than his first suit, it is forcing for one round (if partner responded at the one level) or to game (if partner responded at the two level). This type of bid is called a reverse , and is an integral part of standard bidding.
Foilboards: How the F*ck Do They Work? | The Inertia
Feb 12, 2019 · Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper, has died aged 81. A statement released by his family via one of his former clubs Stoke City said: "It is with great sadness that we
Gordon Banks dies: tributes paid to England World Cup-winning
Malcom shines in absence of other Barca stars BARCELONA • Malcom has struggled for game time at Barcelona since his €42 million (S$64.6 million) move from Bordeaux last July as he finds himself behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele, and Philippe Coutinho in the pecking order.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Malcom shines in Lionel Messi's
Everton's hopes of finishing in seventh and a potential Europa League qualification spot suffered a blow as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on
Jose Mourinho…. His name is never far from the lips of British football fans, whether they admire him or loathe him. Of course, that's exactly what the man himself desires, though the reasons for his need to be constantly in the headlines vary depending on who you speak to….
Manchester United need to do what Liverpool FC did to become
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch champions league draw live streaming
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch champions league live streaming match
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer online free streaming live
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch premier league live streaming free
watch the champions league live stream
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch soccer live stream apk
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch premier league live streaming quality
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch premier league live streaming online
where to watch premier league live streaming
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch soccer live stream app
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming crictime
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming direct
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming yify
#elcasico #gunners #manchestercity #england #acmilan #sumbertv #soccer #londoncity #valcea #cristianoronaldo #liverpoolfc #soccerbible #Fcb #thebeatles #transfernews #ronaldo #championsleague #footballstreaming #commento #arsenal #goal #neymar #nationsleague #streamingbolaid #golazo #trollfootball #leomessi #adidasslipon #liverpoolcity #sunderlandafc #midnight #paulmcartney #sixtimes #cappucino #footballdubai #battuteepiche #football #Liverpool #soccermemes #copaamerica #vandijk #manchestercity #footballmemes #visubal #rugby #league2 #Liamgallagher #Vip45 #frasirap #Suarez #girlsniteout #firmino #champion #livestreaming #villarealcf #24x7 #Celtic #afcnews #livestreams #frasitrap #Barca #conference #nikesoccer #premierleague #panini #JUVENTUS #433skills #kroenkeout #zidane #juventus #footballschedule #freekick #hotcoffee #linkstreaming #winner #nutmeg #goodday #insegreto #soccer
No comments:
Post a Comment