Why Liverpool will NOT win the 2016-17 Premier League title

Monday Night Football served up what looked to be a pre-Christmas treat.

A fierce city rivalry played under the Goodison Park floodlights in front of a raucous crowd of 39,590.

Had Santa come early? Like a cheap chocolate advent calendar, it would leave me feeling slightly disappointed!

EH? I here you cry. I’m sure the Red half of Liverpool enjoyed huge satisfaction from there 94th minute Sadio Mane winner.

Jurgen Klopp will be delighted with his first visit to Goodison after taking all three points in this manner.

On the balance of the game, I think Liverpool just about edged it with their dominant second-half performance.

It was a frantic game played at a furious tempo, but in the second-half, it was Liverpool who managed to keep the ball better. Some slick passing moves without ever really executing the final ball to create a clear cut chance.

Defensively, Klopp will no doubt be happy with another clean sheet and in truth they never seemed under any pressure. Everton’s failure to break down The Reds and not create too many of their own opportunities will be slightly worrying for boss Ronald Koeman. For much of the game, Romelu Lukaku was cast as an isolated figure who lacked any real support from the Toffees’ midfield.

Liverpool have dominated this fixture during the Premier League era. Having met some 49 times, Liverpool have the upper hand, winning 21 times and no fewer than 10 of the wins coming at Goodison Park.

Everton have only managed to beat their neighbours on nine occasions.

The history books don’t give us all the answers, that’s true, but neither did Monday night. Everton, with renewed optimism this season after their summer appointment of former Southampton manager Koeman, haven’t quite found the consistency they would have liked.

With six wins and as many losses from 17 matches so far this campaign, Everton are hardly on great form. Defensively, The Toffees give you chances, conceding on average 1.24 goals a game and keeping only three clean sheets this term.

Therefore you would expect the most effective attacking unit in the league, Liverpool, to cause Everton problems.

But, here’s why I’m still not convinced…

Leading scorers in the Premier League, but is this enough to win the title?

No, I don’t think so based on Monday night’s performance.

Both teams lacked any quality in the first-half. Misplaced passes and poor control really prevented either team from controlling the game. At times, the game resembled a basketball contest with both teams counter attacking one another.

All great action for the neutral, but with no end product, there came an increasing feeling of frustration. Liverpool in the first-half seemed to lack that player who could just put their foot on the ball and control the tempo of the game, which could have eradicated some of the poor passing.

Liverpool, who were arguably missing the club’s most natural finisher in Daniel Sturridge, still lack a real number nine who will help them win the Premier League.

Sturridge doesn’t seem to have won Klopp’s trust and although Divock Origi looks a great talent and prospect, is he quite the real deal yet?

Who will score the 20 plus goals which most title winning teams seem to have? Mane will leave in the New Year for the Africa Cup of Nations and will be a huge loss for Liverpool.

Without Mane’s direct, fast and intelligent runs, The Reds’ attacking players become all too similar.

Roberto Firmino has impressed so far this season leading the front line, but has only managed five goals for all his great work. So despite their current record of over two goals a game, there’s still some questions left unanswered.

Where will the goals come from?

Liverpool won’t ever win the league whilst Milner is left-back

Don’t take this as criticism of James Milner.

A player I admire and a player who still has a lot to offer this team under Klopp. His desire, commitment and work rate are second to none.

His ability with the ball is underrated and Klopp, like so many other managers, have complete trust in him.

Here’s where the problem lies! With the massive void at left-back due to Klopp’s reluctance to play Alberto Moreno, Milner has stepped in and helped stable the ship. Surely this was seen has a short-term fix and not something which would manifest itself into what is now the norm for a club who have ambitions of challenging for the most sought after league trophy in Europe.

Unless Klopp can address this situation in the January transfer window, I don’t see how they can maintain their challenge.

I’m yet to see any evidence of a club in any top-flight division which has been able to do what Liverpool are trying to do this season.

Clean sheets for second-choice Mignolet

The goalkeeper fiasco will probably run on throughout the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

Back-to-back clean sheets now for Simon Mignolet, who is now seen as second-choice to the out-of-form Loris Karius. Where do Liverpool go from here?

Your guess is as good has mine. There’s now a situation where the ‘keeper brought in to replace Mignolet is lacking in form and confidence. He’s taken out of the limelight by Klopp, only for the deemed not good enough former number one to step back in and keep clean sheets.

Does Klopp stick or twist? Will he stick with Mignolet, therefore admitting Karius, who may well go onto become a good ‘keeper, isn’t ready yet?

Or does he look to bring Karius back in and risk losing valuable points through errors caused by his lack of experience?

The answers to these questions will make for interesting viewing and come the end of the season may well pose questions for Klopp to explain.