Have Liverpool Finally Assembled A Title-Winning Squad?

Picture from the Express.co.uk

Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Brighton on Saturday signalled a quality start to the season as they finished the 3rd match-week of the new season in 1st place. After collecting maximum points from their opening 3 games, and importantly keeping clean sheets in all of these games, Liverpool are convincing people that their old bad habits might be out the window.

But over the last year, manager Jurgen Klopp has gone about fixing the glaring problems that had actually been plaguing Liverpool from even before his appointment as manager in October in 2015. In signing Andy Robertson for a bargain £8 million and Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton for £75 million (a world record fee for a defender), Liverpool's defence has transformed. Since their embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Spurs in October 2017, no team has kept more clean sheets (16) and 11 of those clean sheets have come since Van Dijk made his debut. With Robertson, he has offered the defensive reliability and the efficient bombing attacking threat on the wing that had been lacking in the team's previous left-backs.

But it was arguably Liverpool's summer recruitment that has shifted them from 'also-rans' to genuine title challengers. In bringing in Naby Keita from RB Leipzig after having to wait a year for the player to join, he has added impressive dynamism and relentless movement to Liverpool's midfield. Also importantly, he has been playing well next to the fellow midfielders James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum who have appeared to have form an unlikely well-oiled midfield trio. Considering they are so far keeping out captain Jordan Henderson and £39 million new defensive anchor, Fabinho, there is undeniably depth of great players the Reds have at their disposal in the middle of the park.

Arguably one of the lesser problems Liverpool had was the problem of reliable back-up attacking players to come into games off the bench to help change the game. This was glaringly obvious in the club's 3-1 defeat in the Champions League final to Real Madrid in May, that saw Mo Salah come off early with an injury. But with signing Xherdan Shaqiri at a cut-price £13 million, Liverpool have signed a proven Premier League performer for less money than his value on the open market. Coupling this with a rejuvenated Daniel Sturridge who showed impressive pre-season form, Liverpool's reliance on their attacking trio's scoring form ought to be less and see the team last over the season no matter what unexpected injury comes up.

Many have said for a long time now, that Liverpool's style of play and prolific scoring can bring Liverpool a title if not for their defensive problems that had repeatedly seen them drop points in games that they should have comfortably won in the last couple of seasons.

Picture from the Standard.co.uk

Although without much doubt- the recruitment that has elevated Liverpool into the status of title-challengers has actually been the signing of one man in particular. That man being the Brazilian national team's no.1 goalkeeper Alisson from Roma. Liverpool had to break the world-record fee for a goalkeeper to sign him (£67 million) and there may be some doubts as to whether he was worth the money paid for him. But what cannot be doubted was the fact that Liverpool needed a world-class keeper and Alisson fits the bill. Up until Liverpool had scored twice against Roma in the 2^nd leg of their Champions League semi-final tie, Alisson had not conceded any goals at home in the competition, keeping out the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

His three clean sheets may not be a precedent that he will not concede any goals in his maiden season in the Premier League but it does go some way to showing that games where Liverpool only score once in may be games where they still pick up 3 points in. With that sort of goalkeeping quality being brought in by Alisson and the defenders in front of him working well as a unit: Liverpool have gone up a level from the previous seasons prior.

And maybe this new level they’ve reached could be one that sees the Merseyside club keep up with last season’s winners Manchester City in the upcoming title race.