In difficult circumstances, Liverpool has had a clean start to their Premier League season, but what have we learned from the first few months? The Reds have 17 points out of a possible 24 so far this season, and they may be a little miffed that, given the chaos at Tottenham, they aren’t even better off. Few predicted Jurgen Klopp’s team to mount a serious title challenge back in the summer, but the impressive displays of resiliency have given supporters many causes for hope. The early stages’ stop-start nature can frustrate some, but it does give us a chance to reflect on what we have seen so far.
Somehow, another international break is upon us. We’ve selected five of the most important lessons that can be learned from the season’s first eight games. We are frequently guilty of discounting Man City as an unreachable force supported by limitless resources and a “flexible” approach to fair spending. Liverpool, who defeated the Citizens in 2019–20 and twice under this manager brought the title race to the final day, are the best at understanding that this is not always the case.
Many claim that Alexis Mac Allister’s primary assignment hasn’t been to play defensive midfield, even though this doesn’t necessarily suit his skills. Some people thought Ryan Gravenberch might be asked to play at the base of the midfield, but it appears from early indications that the manager sees him as better suited to the No. 8 role. Gravenberch and Harvey Elliott are just two of the many players who benefited from the manager’s decision to alternate between a Premier League team and a rotated XI during midweek League Cup and Europa League matches.
Liverpool’s Champions League participation limits the number of cup opportunities available to fringe players, but this season’s European campaign has allowed the team to establish a routine in those competitions. Liverpool has kept up their habit of giving up the opening goal in 2023–24, which has made life more difficult for them. The Reds have been dealt the opening blow more often than any other Premier League team so far, with Sheffield United and Luton being locked in a relegation battle. While conceding goals at one end is a concern, scoring goals at the other end doesn’t seem to be an issue. With the exception of the recent injury to Cody Gakpo, Liverpool has had five elite forwards with a clean bill of health so far this season, and the results have been terrifying. In the first eight league games, Liverpool has outscored Man City and Arsenal, thanks in large part to Mohamed Salah, who is now just as prolific at creating chances for his teammates as he has always been at converting them.
The Egyptian has already tallied six goals and four assists across all competitions, and the team’s other 26 goals and 26 assists have come from Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Gakpo. Liverpool has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to scoring goals thanks to their array of attacking talent and players like Dominik Szoboszlai providing support and chipping in.
