Liverpool: Liverpool are so much more these days than the prolific Mohammad Salah and their relentless attack. There’s a newfound robustness to Jurgen Klopp’s entertainers, as the opening weeks of the Premier League season have demonstrated.
After three games, Liverpool are the only team in England’s top flight yet to concede a goal. The 1-0 home win over Brighton on Saturday made it seven straight shutouts in the league at Anfield, stretching back to March 3.
Since what will go down as a defining 4-1 loss at Tottenham in October last year when Liverpool produced a much-ridiculed defensive display, Klopp’s side have let in only 22 goals in 32 Premier League games, easily the best record in England.
A minor restructuring of team shape and a major shift in mentality in the transfer market is behind this defensive tightening, which — coupled with the team’s continued threat going forward — is fuelling their bid for a first English league title since 1990.
Klopp’s preference for an attacking central midfielder, like the now-departed Philippe Coutinho or Adam Lallana, behind his three-man front-line of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane has given way to a solid three-man block in central midfield, affording the defence better protection. Currently that comprises James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum and Naby Keita, three very hard-working central midfielders.
Perhaps more importantly, Liverpool finally invested heavily in a commanding centre back when it brought in Virgil van Dijk for $99 million in January and then a world-class goalkeeper in Brazil international Alisson for $84 million in the off-season.
Since Van Dijk’s league debut on January 22, Liverpool have conceded just 10 goals, the fewest in England, and earned 11 clean sheets, the most in England. The Dutchman was described as an “SUV” by Klopp recently and he was excellent in both of Liverpool’s wins last week, against Brighton and in the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Monday.
Alisson already appears to be a big upgrade on Loris Karius, who, it must be said, was part of those strong defensive numbers at the end of last season. The Brazilian is hardly lacking in confidence in these first few weeks in England — against Brighton, he scooped the ball over an onrushing attacker, brought it down and passed it to a defender in a moment of quality that brought roars of approval from Liverpool’s fans.
“You’ve seen his wee chip got applause from the crowd,” Liverpool left back Andrew Robertson said, “but I’m not sure if the gaffer (Klopp) wants to see that too many times!”
Tougher tests are coming for Liverpool — Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City are among their next five league opponents — and it’s yet to be determined if Joe Gomez will be a long-term partner for Van Dijk at centre-back. The 21-year-old Gomez, who can also play at right back, is filling in while Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip are injured.
But it already seems like clean sheets will be as prized and as frequent as Salah’s goals this season.
