Liverpool have the Premier League points record in their sights, having been crowned champions with an unprecedented seven games remaining. However, their form has been patchy since football restarted last month.
Liverpool Looking to Break Premier League Points Record
One of the All-time Great Teams?
Following their draw against Burnley on Saturday Liverpool must win all three of their remaining fixtures to reach a points total of 102, breaking Manchester City’s record of 100 set in 2017/18.
Ending the club’s 30-year title drought is a fantastic triumph on its own, but Klopp and his squad will want to gain every achievement possible. It won’t be an easy run-in for the Reds who still have to face Arsenal and Chelsea before a final day trip to Newcastle.
There has been much discussion this season about where this Liverpool side ranks amongst the all-time greatest Premier League champions. Their consistency over the past two years has been outstanding, losing just once last season and winning 27 out of 29 pre-lockdown games this campaign.
However, should they end this season with a whimper, recency bias will take over and this remarkable team will be seen by many as just another champion.
The Reds post-restart record suggests that they have struggled to find the rhythm which took them to within touching distance of the title by February. They must rediscover this if they want to be remembered in the pantheon of great sides.
Three More Wins to Set a New Benchmark
Jurgen Klopp has insisted on numerous occasions that records don’t bother him, most recently after a 3-1 victory over Brighton. He said: “For me personally it’s not that important, to be honest. Hopefully in 50 years when I’m dead people don’t have to talk about records.” (BBC)
Despite what he says in public, Klopp and his players will inevitably have that Premier League points record in mind as they head into their final three fixtures.
When asked about the aims for the rest of the season, Liverpool midfielder Fabinho said: “Always when we go out onto the pitch, we go to win. We don’t look at the opponent, we just go to try to do our best with intensity and technical play. So we go into these three final games to win.” (Liverpool FC)
Three more victories would also ensure that Liverpool break another two records held by Manchester City. Guardiola’s side won the title by a 19-point margin in 2017/18 having emerged victorious from 32 games, and they equalled the latter record last season. Klopp’s team will best both of these should they take the nine more points available to them.
Bigger than just the League Points Record
Planning for next year will have already begun for Klopp and his staff, but the way Liverpool end this campaign will feed into how they begin their title defence.
Manchester City will inevitably come back stronger next season and their 4-0 dismantling of the new champions was a warning sign. Chelsea and Manchester United may also challenge, but they require a lot more improvement to bridge such a large gap.
Therefore, it is important that Liverpool don’t limp across the line in these final weeks. The mentality of this Liverpool squad has been praised time after time. They have come back from disappointment and near-misses to become champions of England, Europe and the World. Their next three games present them with a new challenge.
With the silverware in the bag, Liverpool must push themselves to new heights and earn their place as one of the greatest Premier League champions of all time. In doing so, they will show the teams looking to take their crown next season that they won’t have an easy task.
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