Five games now ticked off, 33 more to go.
Liverpool sit two points behind leaders Manchester City after recording their fourth win on the spin against Wolves on Saturday.
but at 1-0 down at the half-time break, things were looking bleak, let’s be honest.
The Reds were appalling in that first half, but the only saving grace was that the home side were only a goal to the good. You got the feeling their failure to put another goal past Alisson Becker would come back to haunt them. It did.
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A different looking Liverpool side came out for the second half and three goals were scored without reply – temporarily putting the Reds to the top of the Premier League for the first time in 16 months. Oh, it looked great to see that once again.
With four wins and one draw in their opening five games, there is plenty reason for optimism at Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp’s new-look side. However, that side will now be tested properly with some tough fixtures being thrown their way this autumn.
David Moyes’ West Ham side visit Anfield on Sunday, 24 September and will be hoping Klopp’s men are suffering the hangover of playing in the Europa League on Thursday night. The Hammers were beaten for the first time at the weekend by City and won’t want to make it two losses on the spin on Merseyside.
Liverpool, however, know three points are vital at home, as they then embark on two of the toughest away fixtures the Premier League has to offer with Tottenham (30 Sep) and Brighton (8 Oct) waiting.
Last season, the Reds may well have feared a set of fixtures like this with two high-flying sides ready to capitalise on any mistake. However, this Liverpool side is different from that of last season, and Saturday’s display against Wolves proved that.
A poor performance may be thrown up in a half, but last season would have seen that carry on into the second 45 too, and probably result in a loss or a disappointing draw. On Saturday, zero points was turned into three and momentum is firmly on the up.
Liverpool currently boast the longest unbeaten run in England’s top flight, as it is now 16 without loss. We are starting to now see the Reds of old and the rest of the league will be aware of what that side can do.
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones
Klopp will know not to get too ahead of himself with these defining set of fixtures coming up, but if his side are still unbeaten going into the next international break on the other side of 8 October, then maybe he will start to think about the possibility of pushing City once again.
West Ham at home and then two matches away at Spurs and Brighton – with Carabao Cup and Europa League games in between – if Liverpool can come away from those ties unscathed, then people will start to take notice.
As things stand, the Reds are sailing nicely under the radar and off the lips of pundits and football fans.
City, rightly so, are being tipped to make it four league titles in a row, while Arsenal remain seen by most as their closest rivals.
Where the Gunners failed last season was in the final 10 games in the title race, too many goals were conceded, too many leads were thrown away. Liverpool know what it takes to go toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola’s side and you just get the feeling they want to do it all again this term.
It must have hurt last campaign not being involved in any discussions for the league title, being thrown out of each domestic cup competitions with a whimper and being dismantled by Real Madrid in the Champions League.
This side, as Klopp put it, is Liverpool 2.0 and they look more ready than ever with the new look midfield and devastation up front.
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Darwin Nuñez is looking more like the striker the Reds signed for a fee that could go as high as £85m from Benfica, Dominik Szoboszlai seems to have settled into being one of the best in the league, while that steely mentality is back where Liverpool fail to know when they are beaten.
With the games coming thick and fast now, Klopp will need to use his squad. The players on the fringe of the starting XI will be given the chance to shine and put a case forward for a starting role in the league.
During the trophy-laden years, Klopp used his squad so well when he needed to and the players stood up and put performances in when required. More of the same is needed and the Reds could be in for an exciting season, if they can get through this next test.
