By Robert J. Marsh-
It has been 29 long years since the Reds last won football’s English top division in the 1989/1990 season, when it was known as the Football League First Division. The Premier League was first established in time for the 1992/93 English football season at the time.
Clearly the the most consistent team of the 1980s era, Liverpool have enjoyed a vast array of success, bringing a mighty wave of trophies to Anfield. They won the First Division six times between 1980 and 89, the European cup (now the Champions League) in 1981 and 1984, the FA cup 86 and 89, the League cup 81,82,83, 84, and five community/charity shields (1986 shared with Everton).
So what happened? Well, look at Manchester United right now. Despite having a good first run with Solksjaer, they are still fifth and haven’t won anything with him yet, although they may…they may not. The point is, five or six years ago, many would have considered United the biggest power house the premier league had to offer. Six years later – not a single premier league title since…
This goes to prove that every apex predator inevitably has their day, and is eventually broken down into deeply probed pieces, strung thoroughly through the sieve that is life, humbled, and then forced to rebuild themselves – from scratch, finding new strength and wisdom along the way. This is what has happened to United in recent years, and THIS is what happened to Liverpool back then – around the same time the Premier League first kicked-off, in 1992. Some feel it is synonymous with how Liverpool’s reign of dominance faded, just as United’s first loomed on the horizon. One door gently closed to… another – blown off its hinges.
This isn’t to say The Reds,(Liverpool) haven’t enjoyed their share of success these past 29 years. Liverpool have experienced a wealth of glory, despite never winning the Premier League title.
Liverpool F.C.’s post-1980s titles and honours:
– 1 x Champions league (2005)
– 1 x Uefa/Europa League (2001)
– 2 x European Super cup (2001, 2005)
– 3 x FA Cup (1992, 2001, 2006)
– 4 x League Cup (1995, 2001, 2003, 2012)
– 3 x Charity/community shields (1990*, 2001, 2006).
This is not to say that Liverpool haven’t come close to wearing the premier league crown. Since the Premier League’s inception, they have come disappointingly close to this achievement, finishing second place, three times, in 2001-2002, 2008-2009 and 2013-2014. The fact that all three of these occasions are this side of the millennium, may hint that they have been gradually aligning with their destiny to win their first Premier League title.
Manchester City are now back on top of the table on goal difference, but there is no reason Liverpool, cannot return to the top when they play Bournemouth on Saturday. They are under pressure, but they collectively as a team have the ability to still win the championships.
So, let’s take a look at how the Reds are performing in their current form:
Premier League campaign:
* Averaging 2.48 points per game.
* Won 76% of their games.
* Won 69% of their games at home.
* Scored in 92% of their away games.
* Scored in 100% of their home games.
* Currently 12 PL games undefeated at Anfield.
GAP
One month ago, Liverpool had a 7 point gap at the top, between themselves and Manchester City. Since then, the Reds lost 1-0 to City in January (their first and only defeat so far), and have also drawn twice in the last two weeks. City are once again hot on their heels, just 3 points adrift now. Tottenham, 2 points further back are still in with a shout, in what many are calling a 3-team race for the title.
WAVE
This season, so far, has seen a wave of old records equalled or broken by the Reds:
* Their 4-0 victory over West Ham on the fist day of the season, was their highest opening day victory since 1932.
* Won their first 6 PL matches for the first time since 1990-1991.
* Won their first 7 matches in all competitions, for the first time since 90-91.
* Hit a tally of 20 points after 8 matches – this is their equal-highest return since 2008-2009 (they also achieved this in 96-97).
* Conceded only 3 goals in their first 9 PL matches – a new club record.
* Sitting atop of the table on 26 points, the Reds equalled their highest points return after 10 league games, since 2008-2009.
* Undefeated in their first 13 league games, for the first time since 2007-2008.
* Liverpool’s summer signing and first choice keeper, Alisson, was not on the losing side in both his and Liverpool’s first 15 league games this year, matching a record previously set by Manchester united in 1985-1986, and later equalled by Arsenal, and twice by Chelsea.
* Alisson’s record of 15 consistent games undefeated, is a club record, equalling defender/defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano’s run of 15 games undefeated with Liverpool, in 2007.
* After 16 league games, they accrued 42 points – their best EVER points return at this stage in the top division.
* Recorded their largest win over Man Utd since 2011 (3-1).
* Also, registering 36 shots attempts against Manchester United. This is the highest amount of shots inflicted upon a single opponent in a premier league game, since 2003-2004, when Opta began to record highly detailed statistics.
* In 2018, they won 25 league matches, equalling their own record set in 1990.
* Undefeated in 10 games away from home, for the first time since 1991-1992.
* Unbeaten at the halfway stage of a season, a feat also achieved by arsenal (03-04), Manchester United (10-11), and Manchester City (17-18).
* Inflicted their biggest defeat over Newcastle at Anfield (4-0), since 1987.
* Won 7 games in September 2018, equalling their most wins in a single month- since 1996.
* Accumulated 54 points in their first 20 PL games, only surpassed by Chelsea with 55 points in 05-06, and City with 58, in 17-18.
* Achieved 1000 premier league goals scored at home in their PL history, joining only Manchester United and Chelsea in this elite category.
* Liverpool have currently accrued 62 points from their first 25 PL matches. Based on the 3-points-a-win system, only once have they just surpassed this, accruing 63 in the 1987-1988 season. That year, they went on to once again win the First Division (the top division in English football at the time).
GAP
As it stands, the gap between first and second is only 3 points, and only 2 points separate City and Spurs. Another point of note, is City’s goal difference is currently 5 goals superior to Liverpool’s GD.
IN FACT, Manchester City have a golden opportunity TONIGHT to gain the psychological edge. They play Everton at Goodison Park, and a win would take them joint top on points, but first place through superior goal difference. This could apply significant pressure upon Liverpool to pull out all stops, and on the back of two questionable draws. It will be interesting to see how Klopp and the Reds respond.
‘Can City gain the psychological edge…?’
With 13 games remaining, and the way these teams are playing, this surely feels like it will be a tight and exciting final third of the season, with City flying again, Liverpool holding the fort, and despite injuries and absences, Tottenham are fighting through very respectably.
So, WILL Liverpool win the league?
Liverpool are in pole position and have already played many of their big game matches, losing only once. City still have a few big guns to get through, and have already lost 4 PL games this season, AND they take on Chelsea this weekend.
Tottenham, 7 points ahead of Chelsea, are the dark horse here – no matter what they go through with injuries defeats, absences and so on, you can guarantee that Spurs will be right in the thick of it.
Personally, I say yes! Liverpool will win the league! And you should Know, I take a neutral stance when it comes to Liverpool FC. But this season, I can really feel a sense of magic around Anfield and on the road – which I’ve never felt to this extent before,(at least not in relation to a Premier League campaign)…until now that is. Also, I see far too many records being equalled or surpassed. Reds all the way for me.However it pans out, this season will continue to be a fascinating chapter in the premiere league saga.
DRAMA
On Saturday February 9th, Manchester United travel to Fulham; Arsenal travel to Huddersfield; and Liverpool take on Bournemouth at Anfield, then on Sunday, the 10th of February, Tottenham face Leicester at Wembley, and Chelsea. There is plenty of drama to come.