Liverpool is showing us that they can beat you in more ways than one

On Thursday, Liverpool methodically disposed of up-start Sheffield United, and in doing so obtained their fifth clean sheet in a row and extended their unbeaten run in the English Premier League to a full calendar year. The Reds now have shown the mental and physical strength to beat their rivals in more ways than one.

In a match that was soaked in the majesty of the intimidating Anfield crowd, the result was never in doubt as Mohamed Salah scored in the 3rd minute after Andrew Robertson fed him the ball after running past a stumbling Sheffield mid-fielder. Sadio Mané scored the second and final goal sixty minutes later to seal another victory that for the Reds is becoming more and more routine.

However, there was nothing routine about what this match result meant. Liverpool notched their fifth league clean sheet in a row. This had not occurred since 2007. The newly crowned Club World Cup champions also became the fifth team in history to go a full calendar year without losing a league match in England. Their last loss in the Premier League was January 3, 2019, when they lost to eventual champions Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

Despite going unbeaten through the first fifteen matches, critics of Jurgen Klopp’s club had found one area to focus on – their lack of clean sheets. Through the Merseyside Derby against Everton on December 4th, the league leaders had only two clean sheets. Pundits began to wonder if the fact that Liverpool would leak a goal (or two) might be a weak link, especially if they endured a match where their vaunted front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino would suddenly see their goal well run dry.

It seemed that the club had something else to prove.