Are Liverpool falling apart!?! I only ask because having not lost all season they’ve now lost three of their last four games. While two of those games have come in cup competition, the huge gap they gained at the top of the league all of a sudden looks like a god-send.
Let’s be realistic though, where the league is concerned it will mean nothing if this form continues as they sit 22 points clear of Manchester City in second. They need 12 points from their last ten games to win a first ever Premier League title and a first league title in 30 years. If they collapse and throw away that sort of lead this slip in form will be the least of their problems. And Liverpool know all about slips.
What they have done in the last two weeks is end their hopes of matching Arsenal’s invincibles, lost their chance at the treble completed by Manchester United in 1999 and if they don’t get their act together against Atletico Madrid later this month they could be relinquishing their Champions League crown.
So what has gone wrong?
Against Atletico Madrid they conceded an early goal meaning Diego Simeone’s side could defend deep. Despite 73% possession Liverpool failed to record a shot on target as Madrid closed them out at every opportunity to hold on.
Nigel Pearson obviously watched this and felt it could be repeated. Despite being at home a draw would have been a history making result for Watford as they battle relegation. They defended deep and limited Liverpool to one shot on target over the 90 minutes meaning the 71% possession obtained by The Reds meant nothing. Then they nicked a goal to mean Liverpool had to press more and caught them on the counter to win comfortably 3-0.
Chelsea didn’t limit Liverpool’s chances as much as Madrid or Watford did, with recalled Kepa Arrizabalaga making three fantastic saves in the space of ten seconds in the first half. What they did do was take advantage of a weak Liverpool midfield of Fabinho, Lallana and Curtis Jones and once Willian put them 1-0 ahead they contained the champions elect with relative ease.
FIFA 20 Arsenal Career Mode: Episode 49
Ross Barkley’s second was the icing on the cake which must have felt good for the former Evertonian and even the introduction of Firmino, Mo Salah and Milner couldn’t spark Liverpool into life. Which makes you think. Surely they can’t bottle it again, right!?!
