2 weeks ago
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Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
With a victory over Aston Villa in the books, we take a closer look at what it all means for the Reds.
Liverpool entered the weekend knowing that a win would ensure they would go through the impending international break as the Premier League leaders. What happened on Saturday, though, meant that a win would put actual daylight between themselves and Manchester City, who were upset by an incredible performance from Brighton. Taking all three points would mean that, at minimum, Liverpool would be 5 points clear of their next closest competitors for the top spot.
Winners and Losers
Winners
Liverpool’s Title Bona Fides Liverpool went into November with most folks insisting that their place at the top of the table was because they’d not faced anyone of note. With Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, and Aston Villa in this stretch of games, folks felt like now would be the time to decide if Liverpool’s title aspirations are real.
Putting aside my own skepticism on the framing - especially given that Liverpool visited and beat their most famous rival in the previous set of matches - one would have to acknowledge those questions can’t really linger now. Liverpool have answered the challenge, taking 10 points out of 12 in the league and taking nearly max points across all competitions - the draw to Arsenal being the outlier. Meanwhile, City and Arsenal have each picked up losses to previous Liverpool opponents, Bournemouth having beaten both and Brighton having beaten City. Liverpool beat both Bournemouth and Brighton, specifically notching two victories mere days apart over Brighton across two different competitions.
I still believe it’s too early to forecast out what will be, but I don’t think it’s too early too reassess expectations. Liverpool are a club that can go very, very far and, in my opinion, could beat any team on its day. They will likely be granted entry in the title conversation by pundits. I personally feel they’ve been there for longer. We’ll see what the next few weeks brings.
Caoimhin Kellher While many other teams will point to injuries as an issue for where they are in the table, Liverpool’s number 2 has stepped up so as to make many folks forget that Alisson Becker, one of the best to ever man that position, has missed significant time away due to injury. During the match, the Irish international made a few saves, including two quick ones in succession while defending a corner. Kelleher’s steady ability helped to ensure that the 1-nil lead the Reds were nursing could still yet grow.
Losers
Narrative “Liverpool haven’t played anyone” was as bogus a position then as it is now but at least we have more matches to prove it. As mentioned, Liverpool nabbed a result against Bournemouth earlier in the year while the Cherries took two big wins in relatively quick succession from Arsenal and Manchester City. And while Brighton was part of this string of matches, important to note that the Reds beat them twice.
Strength of schedule is an interesting concept but one I didn’t think we’d spend so much time mentioning in a league where the structure of play is in a balanced scheduling format. But that was the big talking point headed into this string of matches. Liverpool have, in turn, resoundingly done the heavy part in the old adage that you can “only play who’s in front of you.”
What Happens Next
Liverpool will have the break and it will surely be welcome, with Mohamed Salah allowed to stay back by the Egyptian FA and Trent Alexander-Arnold, unfortunately, picking up an injury that saw him go off early today. We’ll hold our collective breath and hope that TAA’s injury is minor. When they return, they have a pretty trick stretch that includes facing off against both Real Madrid and Manchester City a mere three days apart. Hold on to your butts.
