3 things Klopp’s Liverpool must improve ahead of the run in

Get more creative

While their record against the so-called lesser sides needs improving, one factor behind which will help solve that will be if the Reds start getting a bit more creative in the final third.

This seems ridiculous given that they are the Premier League’s joint top-scorers this term, but their last 12 or so league games have seen them create much less than they did at the start of the campaign.

Up until their clash with Bournemouth on December 4, when they were just a point behind Chelsea, Klopp’s men created an average of 16 chances per game, and occasionally created more than 20 in a match (they did so on four occasions).

However, in their 12 games since their 2-0 victory over Sunderland, the Reds have averaged just 11 chances per game, including a season-low of five against both Manchester City and Chelsea.

Clearly, Coutinho’s injury and Mane’s absence will have something to do with it, as has been proven in the last few games, where they created 11 against Hull and 15 against Spurs.

Nonetheless, those numbers are still down on their early-season games, and that’s when Liverpool were at their very best – taking opposition defences apart and consistently asking questions of them.

We haven’t seen that much in recent times, for one reason or another, but if they can get back to their early-season level, they should have enough to finish in the top four.