Date: 24th November 2015 at 6:20pm
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After this season’s unpredictable start to the campaign, perhaps Liverpool are finally starting to believe they can sneak back into the top four this season under new manager Jurgen Klopp.

Saturday’s outstanding 4-1 victory away to league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium has lifted the Reds up to ninth in the current standings, six points behind Arsenal in the top four and the race for Champions League football next term.

But what three things have we learnt about Liverpool after 13 games?

1) Klopp suits the Kop

It was only last month that former Borussia Dortmund coach Klopp succeeded Brendan Rodgers as manager at Anfield, but already the 48-year-old has sparked fresh optimism and instigated a new lease of life at Liverpool.

In his five Premier League games in charge; the Reds have only lost once under Klopp, in the surprising 2-1 home defeat to the hands of Crystal Palace.

But extraordinary away victories at defending champions Chelsea (1-3) and leaders Manchester City (1-4) in Liverpool’s last three fixtures has highlighted what a world class coach Klopp is and that the ‘Normal One’ is a man to be reckoned with.

17 October 2015 - Barclays Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Jurgen Klopp manager / head coach of Liverpool - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

2) They still haven’t replaced Suarez

Approaching nearly 17 months since Luis Suarez left Liverpool for La Liga giants FC Barcelona; it is still clear to see that the Reds haven’t truly replaced the Uruguayan hitman at Anfield.

Having scored a remarkable 82 goals and provided 53 assists in 133 games for the club; repossessing a star striker of Suarez’s quality was never going to be easy, but you would have thought his £75m sale would have significantly helped.

Turns out it hasn’t. With Daniel Sturridge continually struggling with injury; the England international has seen Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert, Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings, Divock Origi and Christian Benteke all try to mirror Suarez’s goalscoring traits at Anfield, but to no avail.

The reality is; Liverpool will never acquire another deadly forward like Suarez for some time, meaning the 18-time league champions will continue to fall short of their dreams of a first-ever Premier League title for many more years to come…

3) If Coutinho plays well, Liverpool play well

In fact Liverpool’s top goalscorer in all competitions this season is undoubtedly their star player of the season so far, midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazil international, who is reportedly drawing interest from Spanish duo Barcelona and Real Madrid, has scored five and assisted three goals in his 12 Premier League appearances this term.

Despite being sent off against West Ham United back in late-August; the 23-year-old has been instrumental in Liverpool’s recent on-pitch success, netting four times in his last three games to inspire his teammates to phenomenal victories at both Chelsea and Manchester City.

Coutinho is the conductor that keeps Liverpool ticking over in the centre of the park and the individual who his teammates can look upon to spark that one magical moment to win a game.

 
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One response to “Liverpool: 3 things we’ve learnt from their season so far…”

  1. Jack Grayson says:

    Regarding Point 1: injury-hit squad playing on Thursday, returning Friday then losing late on to a pacy, difficult bogey team who’ve had a week to prepare is not THAT surprising.

    Point 2: “The reality is; Liverpool will never acquire another deadly forward like Suarez for some time”

    You do realise that he is probably the 2nd or 3rd best player in the world right now, right? Suarez’s do not grow on trees.

    However, why are you lumping in Benteke, Ings & Firmino with Lambert, Borini & Balotelli? Benteke has already scored wonder goals, Firmino just got two assists and a goal against City and Ings was knocking them in before his injury.

    Suarez wasn’t considered World Class when he joined Liverpool either!!