Liverpool has been decimated by injuries this year. Nonetheless, they sit 2nd in the League on Goal difference and just won their UCL group without stressing over the last game. Liverpool are starting to show they are now a machine that can withstand a lot before being tumbled. At the beginning of the year Liverpool were title favorites alongside Man City.
Their starting 11 were;
Alisson, Robertson, Van Djik, Gomez, TAA, Wjinaldum, Henderson, Keita, Mane, Firmino, Salah.
This may have been considered the best lineup in the world and if not it was up there. With this lineup they had quality bench options of Fabinho, Jones, Matip, and Milner among others. Liverpool then signed Thiago and Jota with Thiago being a huge playmaker that would start in midfield and Jota being an option up front that fit the Liverpool mold much better than Origi. There was excitement in the club and among fans as Liverpool kicked off their season.
The matches came aplenty with a shortened timeframe and just as many games as usual. Liverpool started with a lightning opener against Leeds. Championship winners and an electric attack. The game came don to the end with Salah lifting Liverpool to a 4-3 victory to open the season. Next up was Chelsea: Big spenders in the transfer window and a team on the rise to Premier League contenders. Liverpool silenced them in the second with a Mane double to win 2-0. The youngsters got a win in the Carabao Cup against Lincoln city 7-2. Next up an Arsenal team that had started the year brightly. Liverpool dispatched them easily with a 3-1 on the road.
This is where the season begins to turn. Liverpool get doused by Aston Villa 7-2 with every shot Villa taking somehow managing to go in it seems. Keita gets hurt and is out for 2+ months. The defense is exposed and now there are big questions going into the Derby against Everton. At this point only Henderson is missing so the team health has been good. Everton has looked brilliant to start the year. This game has huge implications even apart from the rivalry. Liverpool take an early lead and then look to have a penalty when Pickford hastily tackles Van Djik in the box. VAR determines its offside and ignores the challenge completely which should have Pickford seen Red. Oh and now Van Djik is injured and he's done for the year. The game goes back and forth with it 2-2 late in the game. Now its Richarlsons' turn to take out Thiago and he's injured for 2+ months. Richarlson at least sees red this time. Liverpool score late: but wait VAR overturns it somehow so it ends even.
Liverpool lose the worlds best defender one of the worlds best midfield creators and only get a draw. This is where a lot of teams would crumble. Liverpool are resilient and win their next five games 3 UCL and 2 League but Fabinho goes down and Liverpool are left with Gomez and youngsters at the back. Next up is City who have been less than impressive but always a threat. They draw in an uninspiring game from either team to get us to the international break.
This international break sees Gomez get injured is out for the rest of the season and TAA and Henderson also get injured. Liverpool are left with Robertson as the only backline starter still healthy with our midfield also decimated. Despite this Liverpool thrash Leicester who topped the league at the moment. Liverpool lose their first UCL game to Atalanta and draw to Brighton in dull games with VAR showing itself to be Liverpools biggest rival this year. Liverpool wins against Ajax and Wolves before a much changed squad draws Midtjylland in a game with no competitive consequences.
Liverpool have lost about half of their starting 11 but continue to get results. Jota has been a revolution as a regular and a man who gets goals. The backline has had many different faces and all of them seem to rise to the occasion. Matip, Fabinho, Williams, Phillips and whoever else has to be put there. Neco has filled in well for TAA and Jones has shown why he belongs in the midfield.
What Liverpool are showing is that through too many games and even more injuries they will not be stopped. They have a mentality that is going to put them near the top no matter what. Klopp has truly transformed them into the team to beat. The starting Lineup may be continually changing but nonetheless the results continue to impress amid it all. YNWA
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