Liverpool giving other title contenders a chance thanks to poor performances
The Champions of England lose their second game of the season in their defending campaign. Nothing going right for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.
Southampton stood firm and held on to a 1-0 lead for 88 minutes of football plus added time. They handed Liverpool their second defeat of the campaign. Following the results, a move up three places for the Saints from ninth into sixth as Liverpool watch their point-gap deplete.
While Ralph Hasenhüttl celebrates his club’s eighth clean sheet of the season and an efficient enough performance, Jurgen Klopp worries about how his side let a six-point lead turn into a three-point gap, eventually finding themselves level on points with second-placed Man United on 33 points after Matchday 17.
It was ex-Red Danny Ings who delivered the lethal blow in the second minute of the clash and handed Hasenhüttl his first win over Klopp in five meetings. With their stubborn defending, they’ve now added to Liverpool’s frustration in front of goal.
The champions of England, who are normally deadly goalscorers have not scored a Premier League goal in 285 minutes of Premier League football, drawing 0-0 with Newcastle prior to their Monday night loss at St. Mary’s. This is the first time since 2018 that the champs have been this poor.
Not for the lack of trying
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Liverpool’s failure to score in back-to-back games was not due to insufficient shots taken at goal but the quality, or lack thereof, when in the final third.
Poor decision making and a shot-on-target ratio of 25 shots taken and only four hitting the target should be questioned and should be punishable by being benched.
Liverpool’s poor form in front of goal
- Liverpool 1-1 West Brom
17 Shots – 2 On Target - Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
11 Shots – 4 ON Target - Southampton 1-0 Liverpool
17 Shots – 1 On Target
Something is off at Anfield, and it’s not the creativity with the number of shot-creation action (SCA) at 59 SCA over the last three games. It’s between Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah who really needs to answer for their poor conversion rate.
Since Diogo Jota was pronounced injured during their 1-1 Champions League draw with FC Midtjylland in early December, all of the front three and company has been missing their shooting boots. Barring a mammoth 7-0 win over Crystal Palace, the Reds have been below par and have allowed their counterparts a shot at their title.
Liverpool showing weakness
They are one loss away from equalling last season’s total (three games lost last season). It took them 28 matchdays before they lost their first game of the season when they won EPL gold.
Adding to their misery after the year turned a new age, they’ve already doubled the number of games drawn this campaign. Last term they kept their shared points to a minimum of three games. This term, they’ve already shared the spoils six times.
At Anfield, it is has been much of the same with them only dropping points once out of eight Premier League encounters at the venue while on the road, they’ve only one won twice, lost two, and picked up five draws.
They’ve now collected as little as 11 points from a possible 27 on the road. That’s 16 points dropped in their title-defending campaign. Easy to see where the work needs to be done for Klopp and the club.
Their quality in front of goal needs to improve drastically, as well as them having to improve their form on the road. They now have to hope Sean Dyche’s Burnley does them a solid favour when Manchester United (level on points with Liverpool at the top) meets them for their game in hand on January 12.
Following the FA Cup action coming the weekend, all eyes will be on Burnley vs. Man United at Turf Moor. From Merseyside to Manchester, it will be one of the most anticipated fixtures next week.
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What follows, could ultimately be called the title decider between Liverpool and Manchester United. It’s been a long time since the oldest rivalry in the game held so much importance.