Three Key Factors in Liverpool’s Success this Season – It’s Their Year

Liverpool’s meteoric rise to within touching distance of their first league title in 24 years is undoubtedly the story of the 2013/14 season. Brendan Rodgers’ team has matured at the perfect time, whilst many of their rivals have been in transition. Much has quite rightly been made of Rodgers’ attacking style of play that has blown teams out of the water and made Liverpool by far the most exciting team to watch in English football, but there is more to their success this season than attacking talent. Here are three more subtle factors that have contributed to Liverpool’s renaissance.

1.    Early goals

Sir Alex Ferguson may have been famous for conjuring goals in injury time, but Rodgers has done things the other way around. Time after time, Liverpool have come storming out of the blocks, quickly putting their opponents on the back foot with an early goal. The Reds have scored 58 of their 96 goals in the first half, 15 of which came in the first 15 minutes. Contrast that with an underperforming Spurs side who have managed with just 16 goals in the first half all season.

Early goals have been key for Liverpool this season as they have forced their opponents to open up early on, playing into their hands tactically by allowing The Reds to play their attacking brand of football. Lower table teams who have set up defensively looking for a draw or to grab a late goal have seen their pre-match plans go up in smoke, forcing them to attack and leave themselves open to the counter attack.

But this tactic has worked equally well against Liverpool’s title rivals, most notably in the 5-1 win over Arsenal, where Arsene Wenger’s team were 2-0 down before they’d even worked up a sweat.  The Gunners then capitulated, with a hasty reorganisation proving too little too late. Liverpool remain frail in defensive but their early goals have allowed them to compensate for this weakness.

2.    Keeping key players fit

Winning the title often requires more than a fair share of luck and Liverpool have undoubtedly enjoyed a big slice of fortune when it comes to injuries. That’s not to say they have been entirely injury free; Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique and Lucas Leiva have suffered lengthy stints on the sidelines. But the players that have been at the heart of their success have remained largely injury free, meaning they have been free to perform consistently and effectively as a unit. Luis Suarez, for instance, has played every game since the ban that kept him out for the first five games of the season and Jordan Henderson, incredibly, has played every minute in all but two games this season. This consistency in selection has provided the bedrock of Liverpool’s success.

But, it hasn’t all been down to luck. A lack of European football and early exits from the FA and League Cups have allowed Brendan Rodgers’ side to focus entirely on Premier League success put his players under less physical stress. Liverpool’s first team may be top quality but their squad is somewhat lacking in depth. A few big injuries at key times could have easily scuppered their season, just as they did for Arsenal, whose thin squad struggled to cope with a very busy fixture list. Without the likes of Ramsey and Özil, the Gunners looked like a different team.

Liverpool have played around 15 fewer games this campaign than their title rivals. But, with Champions League football guaranteed for next season, Brendan Rodgers must look to strengthen the depth of his squad to build on the success of this year.

3.    The community

Fate can be a cruel force in football, just ask Arsene Wenger about his 1,000^th game in charge of Arsenal. But, if a side can harness the extra expectation and attention from both supporters and the media that comes from big anniversaries or events, it can give players extra belief and drive. That’s exactly what has happened to Liverpool with the 25^th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Brendan Rodgers revealed how he used a speech by Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall to inspire his players in the recent victory over Norwich: “She talked about stress and how it can prove difficult for you but can also offer great determination to fight. Those were the words that we gave the players before the game. This is really one club at this moment and we will all fight to achieve the ultimate goal.”

During Liverpool’s incredible run of 11 straight victories there has been a growing feeling that this is destined to be their year. Liverpool is one of the clubs in the Premier League with the closest ties to their local community and with the revelations over the Hillsborough disaster finally emerging last season there is a sense that the shadow of the disaster is finally being lifted from the club and the city. Liverpool fans and players have found a new sense of optimism and expectation, and it’s this spirit that looks like it could lead them to the title.