Liverpool are six points away from securing the Premier League title, and there are six more points on supporters minds after Sunday…
SIX points to make…
1. There are times when Liverpool are not a good team.
That sounds like an insane suggestion given the league table, but we were only one header from me just writing that 60 times and having done with it. There are times when Liverpool drift from relaxed and methodical to soporific and downright bad.
There were times yesterday when I found myself shouting “anyone going to win a second ball at any point?”, to no one in particular. There were times when it felt like West Ham were just playing one-twos with our lads and we seemed fine with it.
There are other times when we look lost and go massively jazz (Ryan Gravenberch as centre back). This is a huge sea change from the Jürgen Klopp days. We’re trying something new and it’s working. That doesn’t stop us being maddening at times.
There are times when Liverpool are not a good team.
2. The league is incredibly strong.
And we’ll read the opposite over the next few weeks. We’ll read about Rodri, about Arsenal’s injuries and how United and Chelsea are mad, and that Newcastle and Forest are, in some ways, the true heroes of this campaign.
That’s all bluster. The League table might seem mad, but only because there are no truly bad teams. So far this season, Liverpool have lost two league games – to the teams in third and eighth place. Two of the bottom three clubs have led at Anfield.
Yesterday, West Ham ran the second half against the top side and can feel hard done by coming away with nothing. This isn’t a cakewalk title. This is a hard league to win as everyone fancies everything all the time.
The worst performance I’ve seen by an opponent is by Wolves at their place when they couldn’t pass the ball out of the back. They’ve just won four league games on the bounce.
The league is incredibly strong.
3. Virgil van Dijk, mate.
I’m made up Robbo shouted at him. I’m made up he didn’t let him get away with his error and gave him down the banks. I like that level of accountability and it’s to the big man’s credit that he took it without reply.
I liked it even more when he ignored the interviewer’s opening question because he was watching it on telly over his shoulder and acknowledged that it was a bad one, before shrugging and getting on with it.
The winner was perfect, the celebration a statement of intent. In this of all weeks he chose to eye-fuck The Kop and then grab his badge. “Let’s see what this week brings,” he said, and thereby told everyone exactly what this week will bring.
We’ll need him too. He’s a league-winning captain. I love the arm movements. I love how you could hear him shout “move it quicker” when the midfield stopped running in the first half. I love how he tells everyone where to pass and still scowls at them afterwards.
And what about that ball out to Mo in the first half? I bet you’d forgotten that.
Virgil van Dijk, mate.
4. There’s a ton of work to be done this summer.
The most exciting thing about The Reds, six points apart, is that this is an imperfect side. Arne Slot doesn’t see this as a final picture in need of just the slightest of brushstrokes. This isn’t his team yet. His way of playing, sure, but this is nothing like a team in his image.
There’s planning to come. Right back, the number nine, the fringe players and new lads who can deliver what he wants.
There must be a reason why he seldom rotates. He doesn’t see that many starters when he casts an eye over his lads. There’s clearly something about Harvey Elliott which just doesn’t sit well. There’s a reason why Fede Chiesa doesn’t come on for Mo. Only he knows why.
Ordinarily, this would be a standard first season for a new manager. Everyone gets a season then he begins to sculpt his clay as he sees fit. The odd thing is that his first side looks like winning the league so they must be alright. Despite that, I doubt he’s completely happy.
What will we be like when his true team is at his disposal? And let’s face it, this one is far from bad (though we must always bear point one in mind).
There’s a ton of work to be done this summer.
5. Two out of three ain’t bad
At least the contract thing looks to be done. Mo last week and hopefully Virgil this. Part of me wonders if Trent might have a look at Arne’s first year and wonder if it’s worth learning Spanish after all (I’ve checked on Duolingo and there’s no sign of him), but I like Conor and have made my peace with it.
It puts Liverpool in a stronger position. I expect the transfer budget to be modest because, y’know, the owners, so replacing the world’s best forward and centre back wouldn’t leave you with much. They should be boxed off now so that’s a worry put to bed. Just sort the keeper early next year and start work on Arne’s plan.
This summer is all about the building blocks of Arne’s plan. Arne hasn’t started that yet and look where he is. He’s…
6. Six points away.
And that’s incredible. It’s mad. It makes your heart swell. It makes you wonder how we’ve found it so hard to box more off before now.
Yeah, Rodri and all that, but you can’t win the league on luck. You just can’t.
I read this morning that United won the 1997 League with 75 points. Arsenal won it the following year with 78. We’ve got 76 now with six games left.
Six points.
I love Ipswich Town. Come on, lads. Make it three points by the time we kick off next Sunday.
So much work to do, but talk about a decent start.
Six away.
Six.
