Liverpool came out of the summer transfer window as an improved team; having bolstered the defence with the additions of Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno and Javier Manquillo, the midfield and forward lines were also exponentially strengthened and deepened by the likes of Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic, Rickie Lambert, and Mario Balotelli. They basically tore Luis Suarez into 8 pieces and strengthened in each department. As a result, Liverpool became a more balanced team.
Liverpool Have No Reason To Panic
Great things were expected from them now after an amazing Premier League campaign last season, but the Merseyside club underwhelmed; after another stunning performance vs Tottenham, they went on to lose in consecutive games vs Aston Villa and West Ham United. In both the games, the Reds lacked the fluidity, facility and flair that made them a powerful unit. Once they went one or two goals down, they lacked belief and character except for a few individuals. They lacked inspiration, and just didn’t turn up for the game.
Obviously this has led to opposition fans and pessimistic Liverpool fans to “predict” another downfall; once again, just like how Gerard Houllier went to the second place, only to fall back, just like how Rafael Benitez went to the second place, only to fall again. Supporters of other teams quickly put Liverpool in the bracket of Manchester United, who are not getting the right results themselves.
However, they both are not in the same situation. As complicated as the latter’s situation may be with the retirement of Alex Ferguson, the abysmal short tenure of David Moyes and now radical changes from Louis van Gaal, they went into the league with arguably the easiest first five games. In the process they lost to Swansea, drew with Sunderland, drew again with Burnley, won against QPR and lost to Leicester. The last three are newly promoted sides while Sunderland barely escaped relegation last season.
Meanwhile Liverpool won against Southampton, a team that despite the transfer window raid is playing amazing football and is sitting 2nd in the league, lost to the defending champions Manchester City, dismantled fellow Champions League contenders Tottenham Hotspurs, lost to bogey team Aston Villa and finally lost in the trip to Upton Park, which is a challenge for all teams. You can see the difference in quality of oppositions.
Yet this is no reason for Liverpool’s form. The real reason is the amount of arrivals into the club. They have had eight new players, plus players like Fabio Borini and Suso Fernandez returning from their respective loans. The team will take some time to adapt to each other’s games and once they do, it will be very difficult to stop their combination of pace and creativity.
Last season, Liverpool won 7 points (LLWDW) from the corresponding fixtures last year. This season Liverpool managed to get 6 points (WLWLL). Now their aim should be to win, or at least draw in a fixture they lost last season. If the remaining results came out just the way it was last season, a top four spot is confirmed. The return of Daniel Sturridge will be a huge boost for the Reds, and a comprehensive win against Everton would get them off and running. Thus Liverpool have no reason to panic; they just have to concentrate on winning the next game, and everything will go as expected when the season began.
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