FOR three despairing decades, the different people who have worked and played under the collective badge of Liverpool FC have toiled away to try to bring home the big one: the league title.
There have been near misses. There have been record points totals. There have been incredible journeys. There have even been trophies – 13 of them in fact. Yet for all that we enjoyed winning two European Cups, the UEFA Cup, three FA Cups, four League Cups and three Super Cups, a gaping hole remains in the Anfield trophy room.
What Bill Shankly described as our “bread and butter” hasn’t been served up since 1990. You can almost reach out and touch the hunger for it that has created at Anfield.
ON THIS DAY: In 1990, Liverpool won their 18th league title eventually finishing 9 pts clear in the First Division. pic.twitter.com/x1qgYVYfNp
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 28, 2015
Twenty-nine full seasons have followed the one that ended with Liverpool clad in a kit sponsored by Candy walking around Anfield holding the championship trophy aloft.
Those that have lived through the lot will tell you that in many of those campaigns – too many – everyone knew. It was unsaid. But they knew. They knew Liverpool didn’t really have a real chance of a tilt at the title.
In 29 attempts at making 18 titles into 19, Liverpool have finished as runners-up five times. The Reds have finished in third place five times, in fourth seven times, fifth twice, sixth four times, seventh three times and eighth three times. On five occasions in that time Liverpool’s points total has been sub-60. Miles off what was required.
Sustainability of challenges has also been an issue for Liverpool sides past. Second places since that title have been followed by, in order, by sixth place, fifth place, seventh place and sixth place. It’s been boom then bust. Flying so high before falling so far.
Back in the here and now, Liverpool, after seven games, are top of the Premier League with a perfect seven out of seven record. The Reds are five points clear of Manchester City and only five goals have been conceded in those seven games.
Those same seasoned supporters who lived through the lean times will tell you Jurgen Klopp’s class of 2019 has every chance of winning the title. The traditional drop off after coming so close in the past looks highly unlikely this time around.
And it’s not heart ruling head, or hope triumphing over realism.Take the bookies as a barometer. Unibet price Liverpool at 23/20. City are favourites at 4/5. Third favourites are Tottenham Hotspur. And Spurs, banjoed by Bayern Munich by seven goals to two this week, are priced at 80/1. Miles off.
Wednesday’s see-saw of 90 minutes versus Salzburg in the Champions League, coupled with what Chris Wilder called “an off day” versus Sheffield United has sparked some talk of Liverpool looking flaky, too.
And with Brendan Rodgers bringing a buoyant Leicester City to town on his return to Liverpool at the weekend, with a man who loves scoring against The Reds in the shape of Jamie Vardy in tow, there’s a sense many will ink their coupons with a two for the away win.
Yet this isn’t old Liverpool. This is European Champions Liverpool. A side that reached consecutive European finals while last season matching Manchester City blow for blow. A Liverpool that continues to improve, both in terms of mentality and terms of results.
While many see the Sheffield United and Salzburg games as lucky, or as signs of something bad brewing, others who have watched so many Liverpool sides at Anfield are able to look past the bluster and faux outrage that follows any perceived slip of standard.
At Bramall Lane, Liverpool may have only won the game by a single solitary goal, one that Dean Henderson should have held instead of allowing to trickle through his legs. The Blades, then, were “unlucky” went the storyline. While Liverpool, by definition, were also “lucky”.
Yet even on a day when speed and fluency was lacking at times in South Yorkshire, and the front three had left their shooting boots at home, Liverpool carved out three “big chances”.
A “big chance”, according to those doing the counting, is “an opportunity where the receiving player would reasonably be expected to score”. And further, “these usually occur in one-on-one scenarios or from very close range”. In old money then, “a sitter”.
In Sheffield on Saturday Liverpool were credited with three big chances. “Unlucky” Sheffield United created only one, for substitute Leon Clarke (and even that was likely to have been called offside by VAR). The Blades managed only two shots on target across the 90 minutes.At Anfield on Wednesday night, Liverpool scored four goals. They were credited with five big chances. Salzburg were credited with two. And the Austrian side scored three.
It’s easy to take a cursory look at Liverpool right now, join the dots, and begin to trot out crisis talk.
It’s just as easy to dig deeper, look at the evidence, and show that there is no fire to put out. In both of the most recent matches that have been held under the microscope by the moaners, Liverpool ultimately see out the final moments without panic.
On Wednesday night, there is one shot from outside the area to deal with after The Reds regain the lead and make the scoreline 4-3 in the 69th minute.
3️⃣ points at Anfield #UCL https://t.co/gqocDuZ6qk
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 2, 2019
In Sheffield, United were afforded three attempts after Gini Wijnaldum’s 70th-minute goal but the Clarke opportunity aside, there was little to add to the anxiety a slender lead and a ticking clock will always bring.
It may then be worth taking a moment before committing to that two next to Liverpool v Leicester City on Saturday.
In the first 35 minutes v Salzburg, Liverpool played some outstanding football. The goals from Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson looked the business in the ground and even better on the box the second time around. Slick movement, rapid passing, ruthless finishing.
Salzburg enjoyed half an hour of their own in the sun, showing just why they were in the semi-final of the Europa League not so long ago, before an ever-developing attribute to Liverpool’s armoury once again came to the fore. Nous.
Sadio Mane scores the goal the put Liverpool ahead of his former club RB Salzburg!#LFC
— RouteOneFootball (@RouteOneTweets) October 2, 2019
Subs James Milner and Divock Origi helped to stiffen Liverpool’s resolve and gave Salzburg new problems to deal with. Origi was also a handful in Sheffield and contributed to the winning goal.
On the pitch, on the bench, and in the manager and coaches at Liverpool, there is a constant flow of new ideas, problem-solving and shape-shifting, which is allowing new records to be set and momentum to build week on week.
It’s also leaving opposition managers with nightmares of their own to deal with. Rodgers is again proving his worth with an excellent start to life as Leicester City manager. He would love nothing more than to come back to Liverpool and leave with all three points on Saturday.
As team after team continues to discover, though it's easier said than done. The longest unbeaten home run in Europe’s top five leagues will be tested by The Foxes, no doubt. But in terms of a pop at the Premier League title? Rodgers would swap places with Klopp like a shot.
This Liverpool side is the real deal. Shut out the noise, and back the boys.
