The feeling was before the season began that a top-four finish was possible for Liverpool – but that a title challenge was beyond them. However, after 16 rounds, they sit top of the table, having lost just once – and in the most unlucky and controversial of circumstances at Tottenham.
The defence remains suspect but it’s worth pointing out that no Premier League team has conceded fewer goals that the Reds (15) – which is an incredible achievement when one considers that Andy Robertson is a long-term absentee, Joel Matip’s season is probably over, and Ibrahima Konate continues to be plagued by niggling injuries.
Further forward, Thiago Alcantara hasn’t seen a single minute of action so far this season due to a setback suffered during his recovery from hip surgery in April and it’s still not yet known when the influential Spanish midfielder be finally cleared to return to action, while Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota have also had their issues. Indeed, the latter is currently sidelined with a muscular problem, while Alexis Mac Allister will also sit out the visit of United.
And yet Liverpool keep picking up points, thanks in no small part to Klopp’s capacity to alter the course of games.
The Reds have picked up a staggering 18 points from losing positions in this season’s Premier League. Granted, that hints at the suspicion that Liverpool’s defensive deficiencies haven’t gone away, but it also arguably heralds the belated return of Klopp’s “mentality monsters”.
Last month, they came from behind to nick a draw at the Etihad – with Klopp’s bold substitutions and decision to move Alexander-Arnold into midfield proving decisive – and have this season repeatedly taken three points from games that they had no right to win, most notably and dramatically against Newcastle, Fulham and, just last weekend, Crystal Palace.
Liverpool were utterly abysmal for 70 minutes at Selhurst Park and while Jordan Ayew’s stupid dismissal for a needless second yellow card undoubtedly gifted them a route back into the game, that they took it, was down to the astute changes and tactical tweaks made by Klopp, who has made 70 of a possible 80 changes this season.
Harvey Elliott, as he has so often done this season, made a big impact off the bench. And while his late winner obviously dominated the headlines, it was also he who drew the foul by Ayew that saw Palace reduced to 10 men.
It’s certainly no coincidence that three of the last four substitutes to score a 90th-minute winning goal in the Premier League have done so for Liverpool (Elliott, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota), while it’s also worth noting that the Reds have now netted more injury-time winners under Klopp (17) than United managed under Sir Alex Ferguson (16). As many of the club’s joyful supporters have pointed out this week, ‘Fergie time’ has given way to ‘Kloppage time’.
Liverpool FC Reloaded
Whatever one’s take on that questionable pun, it’s clear that the Reds are on the rise again. Klopp constructed one great team at Anfield; now it seems he’s assembling another.
“Liverpool FC Reloaded” might not win the title this season but the Reds’ rebuilding project is definitely ahead of schedule – and that’s testament to the genius of the manager.
Liverpool have lost some seriously influential figures in recent seasons, on and off the field, but Klopp was always the key to the club’s success – and that’s been underlined during what could have been another trying campaign.
Instead, order has been restored, and optimism has returned ahead of what is always the most eagerly-awaited fixture of the season at Anfield. Because, right now, Liverpool are everything that United are not: a team moving in the right direction again under an outstanding manager held in the highest esteem by players, supporters and opponents.
Whereas Ten Hag appears helpless, utterly bereft of ideas and powerless to prevent United from descending further into farce, Klopp can do no wrong at the moment. He has rediscovered his Midas touch. Even when all looks lost, he is finding a way to win. Neville really must wish he could bring him to United tomorrow.
