Advantage Manchester United as Liverpool go out with a whimper against Southampton and continue miserable run

Advantage Manchester United as Liverpool go out with a whimper against Southampton and continue miserable run
Liverpool will not be too eager to face Manchester United in this period if they don’t immediately sign centre-backs and free their two most important midfielders from defensive duties (Photo by Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Other teams have gone through worse barren runs but this is Liverpool sitting at the top of the table with no points difference to sit on. Manchester United are level on points with them with a game in hand and playing against them on the 17th.  Liverpool simply don’t seem to be able to get a shot on target itself with one of the most feared strikeforce going quiet all of a sudden.

Virgil van Dijk’s absence seems to have hurt the attack more than defence

People expected Liverpool to concede a lot of goals after van Dijk’s injury, but it has been proven to be simple conjectures at this point of time. While Liverpool haven’t conceded too many goals as expected, it would seem that the attack have dried up in their goals and it is hurting Liverpool terribly. Every team in the league is playing with a low block against Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp hasn’t been able to overcome teams like that.

Liverpool’s full backs have been nullified as teams field centre-backs who 6’6 feet in height against their short attackers. Liverpool haven’t scored a header from a cross or corner kick since Roberto Firmino’s late goal against Tottenham. That speaks volumes as a major source of Liverpool’s goals have been robbed. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have contributed to 48 goals right from the start of the 2018/19 to 2019/20 season. The same hasn’t been able to be replicated this season and it has added too much of a burden to the attackers.

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Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all have to create and score

goals themselves and it shows as Liverpool haven’t been able to score goals when any of them are out of form. Thiago Alcantara will take some time to get used to how compact teams defend against Liverpool and will then show why he is admired so much by Liverpool.

Early advantage to Manchester United given

Manchester United have an early advantage in this title race with them playing their match in hand against Burnley in 8 days from now. A win in that match would give them a 3 point lead over Liverpool and will force the Reds to be under immense pressure to defeat Manchester United to cut the lead. There will be added pressure as Liverpool’s 3 year unbeaten record is at stake and defeat will essentially end their aspirations of overtaking Jose Mourinho’s record with Chelsea of 86 matches.

It could be said right now that Manchester United’s destiny is in their own hands and anything that happens from now on is on themselves.

Also read: A transfer to Manchester City is only possible based on Lionel Messi’s decision, says Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano