Playing for 90
Fansided

Liverpool isn’t ready to contend for a Premier League title

By Rucker Haringey

Aug 2, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel (37) keeps the ball out of the goal as AC Milan midfielder Rami Adil (13) looks for the ball during an international friendly at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 2, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel (37) keeps the ball out of the goal as AC Milan midfielder Rami Adil (13) looks for the ball during an international friendly at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Liverpool sits just six points off the top of the league after their win over Swansea, but their fans are mistaken if they believe Jurgen Klopp can lead them to a title this year

Liverpool fans have every right to be encouraged about their long-term prospects. Jurgen Klopp has come in and transformed the team from awful to pretty good in a remarkably short time. However, fans that are working on the Premier League title parade need to pump the brakes a bit. Klopp and Liverpool aren’t title contenders this season.

Fans at Anfield are feeling great about their side after Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Swansea this weekend. The three points earned has them all the way up to sixth place in the Premier League table. Being six points back of the league lead after 14 matches certainly isn’t an insurmountable gap for a side to overcome given the number of matches left in the season. Liverpool just isn’t the right team at the right time to overcome that deficit.

The recent win over Swansea is a great example of where Liverpool is at the moment. Klopp has them playing at a higher pace than his predecessor Brendan Rodgers and he’s instilled some real grit into the squad. He’s made them a much better side in a very short amount of time and deserves a ton of credit for that. He deserves to be adored by Liverpool faithful for what he’s doing.

More from Playing for 90

However, the win over Swansea also represents what is sorely lacking for Klopp’s side. Against a Swansea team that’s in the midst of their own crisis they failed to really assert any dominance. In fact, per Whoscored.com, Swansea was actually the better rated side prior to James Milner’s goal in the 61st minute. I’m not one to turn my nose up at three points, but this wasn’t all that impressive of a performance from Liverpool. It was a step in the right direction, but they are far from the finished product Klopp desires.

Liverpool is still in somewhat of an identity crisis as well. Who will they play up top as striker, Benteke or Sturridge? Neither of them was remotely effective in the Swansea match. Klopp still needs to firm up where Roberto Firmino will play on a regular basis as well. He was far less effective as a left winger versus Swansea than he’d previously been as a striker. None of these challenges are daunting in and of themselves, but together they show there is still a ton to figure out at Anfield.

Liverpool fans should be pleased with their side and the way their performance is trending. They just shouldn’t get ahead of themselves and buy into the hype that they are Premier League title contenders this season.

Home/Liverpool FC