It may not be the start to the season that everyone associated with Liverpool may have wanted, but after eleven games they currently sit in second, with just goal difference separating them from the summit, and that is why they still look the team that everyone has to beat.
Image copyright – Steve Haag Sports
With the best centre-back in the world, Virgil van Dijk, out for the rest of the season, along with his first-choice partner, Joe Gomez, many experts have suggested that the 17/10 on offer for Liverpool to retain the title is a bit too short. A few impressive clean sheets from the make-shift defensive partnership of the versatile Fabinho and third-choice centre-back Joel Matip against Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers proves they can still cope without their star defender.
The greatest manager in Premier League history, Sir Alex Ferguson, showed football lovers that “teams don’t win you leagues, squads do”, and with Liverpool missing seven first-team players against the Foxes and still performing in that dominant fashion, you can see that the Liverpool squad are not ready give away their crown just yet.
The squad, which was bolstered in the summer by UEFA Champions League winning midfielder Thiago Alcantara and Wolves forward Diogo Jota, have already seen that recruitment reap rewards with Jota scoring nine goals in his first 14 games.
Other than a fantastic squad, in order to win a league, you need your home ground to be a fortress and Liverpool are undefeated in their last 65 games – a record spanning over three and a half years. From six home games this season, they have won all them. Another question that must be asked is “who can go to Anfield this season and avoid defeat”?
With all this in Liverpool’s favour, there should not be any doubt that the title will return to Anfield come May next year.
VEEZ’S PREDICTION: 85 POINTS will be enough to win the league
Why?
In the past two seasons, only two teams have managed to accumulate more than 80 points. In 2018/2019, Liverpool and Man City finished on 97 and 98 points respectively, with Chelsea finishing in third with 72 points. Last season Liverpool finished on 99 points with City finishing on 81 points and Manchester United finishing well back in third with 66 points.
Based on the last two seasons and the way this season has started – with no team able to preserve an undefeated record – 85 points looks to be the amount to be aiming for to become champions.
How will Liverpool will get 85 points?
The season promises to be a tricky one with a hectic schedule planed and dropping points is inevitable, but with that being said, this is what Liverpool have to do:
From 19 home games, Liverpool should confidently win 17 games, and after already winning their first six, they just need to win 11 more. 17 multiplied by 3 = 51 points
On the road they will just require 34 more points of which they have already acquired 6 points out of a possible 15. The remaining 28 points can easily come from 10 more wins.
51+34=85
Written by Venal Naidu
