10 Amazing Pictures That Sums Up Liverpool’s First Half Of The Season

Liverpool have been on fire in their first full season under manager Jurgen Klopp. The German, who took over in October last year, has completely moulded the Liverpool team into his own image and it is showing on the football pitch. After having finished in a disappointing 8^th place last year, the Merseysiders currently occupy the second place in the Premier League standings, 5 points behind leaders Chelsea after 20 matches.

Liverpool have done well in the EFL Cup, having reached the semi-finals and could very likely set up a final clash against bitter rivals Manchester United.

What has been the most pleasing aspect for the Reds is that they haven’t had to rely on a single person for goals. The goals are coming in from everywhere across the pitch with summer signing Sadio Mane being the top scorer with 8 goals. Adam Lallana is enjoying his best ever season whereas Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, until his injury, have been phenomenal too. James Milner has been excellent as a left-back and has chipped in with some crucial goals as well.

What does 2017 hold in store for Klopp’s men? The title is well within their reach, despite the 5-point lead Chelsea have built up. The Reds need to keep the pressure on and not let the gap widen and if the Blues slip up, they will have a shot at the trophy. The EFL Cup is also a likely avenue for Klopp, having already made to the last four, especially after having lost the League Cup final last term against Manchester City. He would definitely like to put that right. Things look bright and shiny as the new year dawns upon Liverpool as we take a look at 10 pictures that sum up Liverpool’s season so far:

10. An Explosive Start

Jurgen Klopp’s charges trumped Arsenal on the opening day of the season, beating them 4-3 in a pulsating encounter at the Emirates Stadium. After Theo Walcott had put the Gunners ahead, Coutinho grabbed a brace on either side of Adam Lallana’s strike to put Liverpool ahead, but it was new signing Sadio Mane that grabbed the headlines with a wonderful debut goal that proved to be the winner. Arsenal put up a fight late in the game with goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers but it was not enough as the Reds ran away with the 3 points.

9. A Shocking Defeat

However, the Reds celebrations were cut short as they were handed a shock 2-0 defeat by the newly-promoted Burnley at the Turf Moor in the second week of the season. First half goals from Sam Vokes and Andre Gray were enough for the Clarets as they defended resolutely to see out the game.

8. Strong end to August

Liverpool bounced back from the loss to Burnley in style, defeating lower league side Burton Albion 5-0 in the EFL Cup, with Daniel Sturridge scoring twice for the Reds. They ended the month of August with a 1-1 draw against title rivals Tottenham at the White Hart Lane in the league. Liverpool finished the month with 4 points from 3 games, not a good start but they would have taken confidence from having played well against two rival clubs early in the season and getting points against them.

7. Getting into the groove

Liverpool began the month of September strongly with an excellent 4-1 win over champions Leicester City and followed it up with a crucial 2-1 victory against rivals Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge. Dejan Lovren scored the first for the Reds before Jordan Henderson increased the lead with a sublime curling effort that is surely a contender for the goal of the season. Diego Costa scored the consolation for the home team. After a slow start, Liverpool were starting to get into their strides.

6. Hull City Thrashed at Anfield

Liverpool followed up the win over Chelsea with a 3-0 win over Derby County in the EFL Cup to advance to the fourth round. Next up, they had newly promoted Hull City at home. Having suffered a loss to Burnley, this game was very important for Klopp and his men and they took the visitors to the cleaners, defeating them 5-1 thanks to the two penalty goals from James Milner along with goals from Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho. Four wins in four games in September and Liverpool were back in the hunt for the trophy.

5. Unbeaten Run Continues

Coming into October, the Reds were unbeaten in six games in all competitions and continued in the same vein of form defeating Swansea City 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium. They were held to a goalless draw against rivals Manchester United at Anfield next, before beating Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at home, thanks to first-half goals from Mane and Coutinho. Liverpool then ousted Tottenham from the EFL Cup on their way to the quarter-finals of the competition beating them 2-1 at home with Daniel Sturridge starring again with two goals on the night.

4. Goal Glut

A trip to Selhurst Park was up next for Liverpool and they made it seven wins out of 10 in the Premier League by beating Crystal Palace 4-2 in a thrilling encounter. Goals from Emre Can and Dejan Lovren sandwiched a James McArthur equaliser to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead inside the opening 21 minutes. McArthur equalised again on the half-hour mark with another header. Then Joel Matip’s first goal for the club put the Reds 3-2 up at half-time before a brilliant Roberto Firmino finish extended Liverpool’s lead in the 71st minute, and the Reds saw the game out to take all three points.

Watford visited Anfield next and were thoroughly thrashed 6-1 by the home team as Liverpool broke open the Hornets’ defence with surprising ease. Sadio Mane grabbed two goals on the evening, along with strikes from Coutinho, Can, Giorgino Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino. With the win, Liverpool finished at the top of the Premier League on the day, for the first time since May 2014.

3. Coutinho suffers injury

Liverpool continued their excellent run in the league that had seen them last lose against Burnley in the second match week, as they extended their 9-game unbeaten run with a 0-0 draw at the St. Mary’s against Southampton and followed it up with a 2-0 win over David Moyes’ Sunderland at Anfield. However, the win had a bittersweet ending for the Reds’ supporters as they saw Coutinho taken off injured in the first-half due to what seemed a serious injury. It was later confirmed that the injury was pretty bad and the Brazilian was likely to miss close to 6 weeks of action.

2. Points Dropped early in December

Liverpool’s 11-game unbeaten run in the league was finally brought to a halt by Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium as the Cherries ran 4-3 winners against the Reds in the first week of December. It was a thrilling encounter with The Reds holding a two-goal lead at the break thanks to goals from Mane and Divock Origi, but Callum Wilson’s penalty got one back for the Cherries. Emre Can restored the two-goal advantage for Liverpool, but strikes from Ryan Fraser and Steve Cook levelled the game before Nathan Ake scored late in injury-time to win it for the Cherries.

The loss was followed by another poor result for Liverpool as they were held to 2-2 draw by strugglers West Ham United at Anfield. Adam Lallana gave the Reds an early lead with an excellent finish. But Dimitri Payet equalised for the Hammers with a free-kick midway through the first half, before Michail Antonio put the visitors ahead shortly before the half-time. Divock Origi brought Liverpool back into the game scoring the leveller in the second half, but the hosts were unable to get the winner and they ended up with just one point from a winnable fixture, leaving them 6 points behind Chelsea.

1. Bounce Back from Poor results

Liverpool, however, managed to turn it around after two consecutive bad results, beating Middlesbrough away 3-0 and followed it up with a crucial win over Everton in the Merseyside derby thanks to a late goal from Sadio Mane. Another clinical performance against Stoke City at Anfield followed as the Reds, after conceding an early goal, bounced back tremendously to win the tie 4-1 emphatically with goals from Lallana, Firmino and an own goal from the Potters’ midfielder Gianelli Imbula before Daniel Sturridge opened his Premier league account with an alert goal. The recent run of form will definitely come in handy as they go up against Plymouth to play the third round of the FA Cup.