Even though Liverpool have been on top of the league table for the last few weeks, the boys have been delivering a fluctuating performance since the start of the season. The Reds have been going 8 weeks without a clean sheet and often intensely escaping a narrow win towards the end of a match. To say the team has not been in the best form since the start of the EPL season has been a fair statement – before the thrilling Manchester City result on 11 November 2019, in which the Reds achieved a 3 – 1 victory.
For most of the 2018 – 2019 season, many have referred to the title race as a two-horse race between the Citizens and the Reds. Despite the outstanding performance of both teams throughout the league, Pep Guardiola’s side was crowned the champions of England by a tight 1-point difference. The intensity of the football brought from Liverpool and Manchester City in the EPL and UCL since 2018 has created a bit of a rivalry between the teams, therefore it was so important for the Reds to beat City and take an 8-point lead at the top of the premier league table.
Jurgen Klopp’s side is now hungry to be the champions of England for the first time since the premier league started in 1992. Ever since Liverpool’s victory over Barcelona in the 2018-2019 UCL semi-final, Jurgen Klopp refers to his side as “The Mentality Giants” which has been appropriate since Liverpool is the current champions of Europe. Even though we are still early into the season, if ever there was a sense of urgency to win the league – it is now. However, the boss and the boys know and understand that they should focus on working hard and consciously making an effort to be consistent. Especially because this season does not look like a two-horse race anymore, with other teams like Leicester City, Chelsea and Sheffield United being in top form as well.
There is so much to look forward to after the City game because the mentality giants played like champions against the undeniable football giants Manchester City. If the quality displayed at the City game last throughout the season, then Liverpool fans have an exciting season to look forward to.
As gripping as the entertainment of football is, there are things in life more important such as the well-being and lives of people. To highlight the magnitude of the Manchester City fixture without mentioning the special return of the seriously injured Irish fan Sean Cox would be an injustice to Liverpool. The boss, players and fans are all gratified by Mr Cox’s road to recovery and some of them had the opportunity to meet with him after the game. In that train of thought, 11 November is Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) in the UK which marks the end of World War 1 and therefore tribute is paid for the veterans who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The international break will soon be over and league action will commence again where the Reds will be facing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park Stadium on the 23 November 2019. After the City game, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk stated: “We are very happy with the position we are in, but we cannot take it for granted. We just have to keep going and take it game-by-game.” The boys will have a busy schedule until the end of the year and therefore it is important to take van Dijk’s words to heart and take it one game at a time. Support will be needed for the team because the boys have 12 remaining fixtures in different competitions until the end of December. May the mentality giants overcome this next hurdle.
The Liverbird 