Seven out of a possible nine points. That’s Liverpool’s record after three games, following a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday.
When the Reds’ match list was released earlier this summer, you would have accepted that — Bournemouth at home looked like a nice fixture, but Chelsea and Newcastle represented two of the most challenging away journeys all season.
Liverpool is presently fourth in the Premier League table, two points behind three-time champion Manchester City and on goal difference behind West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Indeed, the Reds have been one of the greatest teams in the league for a long time, dating back to when Jürgen Klopp initially altered his system ahead of the game against Arsenal in April.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been shifting into midfield in control and then back to his right-back role when the opponent gets it.
Liverpool has won nine games, drawn four, and not lost any in the 13 games since Klopp decided to freshen things up. Its 31 points (out of a potential 39) amounts to 2.38 points per game, which would be enough to reach 90 points over the course of a season.
And, since Pep Guardiola took over as Manchester City manager in 2016, you’ve needed at least that number to win the Premier League title in five of the last seven seasons.
To return to City, the treble-winner has only three points more than Liverpool in its previous 13 games, while Klopp’s team leads Manchester United (28 points) and Arsenal (25 points).
There are a few major exceptions to this. City’s only points were dropped after it won the Premier League last season (it drew at Brighton and lost to Brentford), and the run-in isn’t always the best indicator because some clubs have less to fight for.
It’s also true that some performances have been more convincing than others, so maintaining the current pace may be challenging. But the reality remains that Liverpool has the league’s longest unbeaten streak, and the sample size — more than a third of a season — is reasonable. The longer this streak goes on, the more persuaded you are that Klopp simply needs a few more pieces before he can challenge again.
The first of these components is an outstanding defensive midfielder. Wataru Endo has joined from Stuttgart, but at 30 years old, there’s little reason to believe he can be a long-term starter for a team with Liverpool’s ambitions.
The second is another center-back, preferably one who can play on the left side and provide more balance than Andy Robertson, an attacking full-back who is occasionally asked to play in a back three. As things are, Klopp is lacking in consistently accessible and reliable players in that sector, which is likely to bite you over the course of a season. Ibrahima Konaté has already been injured, and Virgil van Dijk has been suspEndoed.
Klopp must collaborate with the club’s recruitment staff to identify acceptable candidates for both posts, and then owners FSG must fund the transactions. That may not be achievable by the deadline on Friday, but a concentrated late drive could yield abundant rewards.