Liverpool beat Sheffield United 2-0 on Thursday to open up a – point gap at the top of the Premier League table
By Nick Wright
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Sadio Mane celebrates his goal against Sheffield United
Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City on January 3 last year proved costly to their title ambitions, with Pep Guardiola’s side going on to claim the Premier League crown by a single point.
But it also turned out to be the start of something special. Since that night at the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool have gone Premier League games without defeat. The 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Anfield on Thursday made it a full calendar year unbeaten for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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The run has put them points clear at the top of the Premier League at the start of (************************************************************************************, with defending champions City languishing well off the pace in third place. Liverpool’s first title win in years is beginning to look like an inevitability. Is there any stopping them?
***************** Yet Another win for relentless Reds******************************
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool’s win over Sheffield United
Sheffield United certainly couldn’t. Chris Wilder’s side have been awkward opponents for the big six this season, taking points off Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United, while Liverpool needed a th-minute strike from Georginio Wijnaldum to beat them at Bramall Lane in September.
This time, however, their resistance only lasted four minutes, when Andrew Robertson capitalized on a slip from George Baldock to latch onto Virgil van Dijk’s long pass and cross for Mohamed Salah to put Reds in front.
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Liverpool rarely looked like giving up the lead after that, controlling the game convincingly and registering 75 per cent of the possession – their second-highest total of the season so far.
Sadio Mane scored the second goal midway through the second half, finishing emphatically at the second time of asking following a smart piece of combination play with Salah, but Liverpool could easily have had more goals . By the end, they had attempted shots to United’s three.
“We played really well,” said Klopp afterwards. “Our passing was very good, we broke lines, our positioning was exceptional, and the discipline off extensively was exceptional. We did not let them have the moments they wanted, we controlled the game and [the win] was very well deserved.”
How Liverpool’s unbeaten run compares
The numbers behind Liverpool’s unbeaten run are extraordinary.
Klopp’s men have won (of the 039 games, taking************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************ points from a possible (**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************. It’s seven more than Manchester City have managed in the same time-frame despite playing a game more.
Liverpool have averaged 2.7 points per game during the run and scored 89 goals. Their shut-out against the Blades was their th clean sheet of the calendar year.
It’s the front three who tend to dominate the headlines in this side, but the defensive showing against Sheffield United was the latest reminder of the strength at the back that has underpinned their success.
The victory over Sheffield United extended Liverpool’s current winning streak to 13 games. Before the 1-1 draw with Manchester United in October, they won 19 games in a row – the second-longest winning run in Premier League history after Manchester City’s
- ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************ – game run in 2020
There have been plenty of highlights along the way. Liverpool made a huge statement with their 3-1 win over Manchester City earlier this season, and there have also been notable comebacks, including the 2-1 win over Tottenham in March – secured by a late own goal – and the dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa a week before the win over City in November.
Liverpool supporters will hope the best is yet to come.
Could Liverpool match the Invincibles?
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Sadio Mane in action against Sheffield United
******** Klopp has repeatedly ruled. out the possibility of replicating Arsenal’s Invincibles but the comparisons are inevi table when Liverpool continue to produce performances and results of such a relentlessly high level.
(******************** Liverpool transfer rumors
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*** The Reds are in fact averaging more points per game than. the Invincibles. They are scoring more goals and conceding fewer.
Liverpool’s unbeaten run compared to Arsenal’s Invincibles
Liverpool’s hopes of replicating Arsenal’s 053 – game unbeaten run rest on the next 15 games, however, and even in this kind of form it will not be straight-forward. They are away to Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham in their next game, live on (Sky Sports) ****************************************************** on January
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** , and after that they host Manchester United before awkward trips to Wolves and West Ham.
Jan (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: Tottenham (a)Jan (********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: Man Utd (h)Jan (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: Wolves (a) Jan Jan) ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: West Ham (a)
Feb 1: Southampton (h)
Feb 15: Norwich (a) (Feb) ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: West Ham (h)************** (Feb) **********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: Watford (a)Mar 7: Bournemouth (h)(Mar) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: Everton (a) (Mar) : C Palace (h)
There is the small matter of a Merseyside derby against a resurgent Everton in March, and even if they make it through the next games without losing, they will need to avoid defeat against – you guessed it – Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in April in order to make it to 49.
Tottenham vs Liverpool
(January) ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************, (******************************************************************************************, 5: (pm)
Live on
The Premier League title may already be theirs if the run continues for that long, but only then will they consider the possibility to going the entire season without defeat. Liverpool face Aston Villa, Brighton, Burnley, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle in their final six games of the campaign.
What could stop them?
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Liverpool fans show their support before kick-off
Of course, plenty could go wrong between now and then.
Liverpool are coping without Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip due to injuries at the moment, but would they be able to manage if Van Dijk was ruled out?
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are similarly important, with none of Liverpool’s back-up full-back s able to replicate their creativity. The newly-recruited Takumi Minamino will provide greater depth in attack, but an injury to any one of their front three could be just as problematic.
There is no let-up to Liverpool’s schedule either, with Champions League and FA Cup commitments still to come, meaning fatigue is likely to become more of an issue as the season progresses.
A lot may also depend on how Klopp’s men cope with the mounting pressure. If games are drawn and points are dropped, how will they respond? All the recent evidence suggests there is no mental frailty in this Liverpool side, but it is another factor to consider as they seek to continue their unbeaten run and send more records tumbling.
(**************************************************************
Sadio Mane in action against Sheffield United
******** Klopp has repeatedly ruled. out the possibility of replicating Arsenal’s Invincibles but the comparisons are inevi table when Liverpool continue to produce performances and results of such a relentlessly high level.
- (******************** Liverpool transfer rumors
**************
Liverpool’s unbeaten run compared to Arsenal’s Invincibles
Liverpool’s hopes of replicating Arsenal’s 053 – game unbeaten run rest on the next 15 games, however, and even in this kind of form it will not be straight-forward. They are away to Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham in their next game, live on (Sky Sports) ****************************************************** on January
- Jan (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: Tottenham (a)Jan (********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: Man Utd (h)Jan (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: Wolves (a) Jan Jan) ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************: West Ham (a)
Feb 1: Southampton (h)
There is the small matter of a Merseyside derby against a resurgent Everton in March, and even if they make it through the next games without losing, they will need to avoid defeat against – you guessed it – Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in April in order to make it to 49.
Tottenham vs Liverpool
(January) ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************, (******************************************************************************************, 5: (pm)
Live on
The Premier League title may already be theirs if the run continues for that long, but only then will they consider the possibility to going the entire season without defeat. Liverpool face Aston Villa, Brighton, Burnley, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle in their final six games of the campaign.
What could stop them?
************
Liverpool fans show their support before kick-off
Of course, plenty could go wrong between now and then.
Liverpool are coping without Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip due to injuries at the moment, but would they be able to manage if Van Dijk was ruled out?
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are similarly important, with none of Liverpool’s back-up full-back s able to replicate their creativity. The newly-recruited Takumi Minamino will provide greater depth in attack, but an injury to any one of their front three could be just as problematic.
There is no let-up to Liverpool’s schedule either, with Champions League and FA Cup commitments still to come, meaning fatigue is likely to become more of an issue as the season progresses.
A lot may also depend on how Klopp’s men cope with the mounting pressure. If games are drawn and points are dropped, how will they respond? All the recent evidence suggests there is no mental frailty in this Liverpool side, but it is another factor to consider as they seek to continue their unbeaten run and send more records tumbling.
(**************************************************************
Liverpool fans show their support before kick-off
Of course, plenty could go wrong between now and then.
Liverpool are coping without Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip due to injuries at the moment, but would they be able to manage if Van Dijk was ruled out?
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are similarly important, with none of Liverpool’s back-up full-back s able to replicate their creativity. The newly-recruited Takumi Minamino will provide greater depth in attack, but an injury to any one of their front three could be just as problematic.
There is no let-up to Liverpool’s schedule either, with Champions League and FA Cup commitments still to come, meaning fatigue is likely to become more of an issue as the season progresses.
A lot may also depend on how Klopp’s men cope with the mounting pressure. If games are drawn and points are dropped, how will they respond? All the recent evidence suggests there is no mental frailty in this Liverpool side, but it is another factor to consider as they seek to continue their unbeaten run and send more records tumbling.
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