Liverpool are set for a surprisingly quick start this weekend after the international break and it’s an opportunity for Jurgen Klopp’s side to feel more comfortable than most.
The Premier League resumes on Saturday, with the division’s top two teams in the opening fixture of the weekend in a lunchtime meeting at the Etihad. This is a time when Klopp often gets angry.
This is especially true right after the national team break.The journey of the Reds internationals, especially the South American national team, could make this a potential banana peel, but even without a pioneering international, it can be difficult to navigate. How did Manchester United perform under their current manager on Saturday?Klopp’s first season at the club saw them win 2 and lose 1 from four early starts (played at 12.45 that season), but history sees 2015/16 as a turning point for the club.
This record was repeated in Klopp’s first full season at the club, with the Reds taking the same number of points from the same number of games.That trend worsened in 2017/18, despite Liverpool reaching the Champions League final on Saturday afternoon, winning just one of their eight games. The 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons were impressive, apart from a Covid-affected season in which Liverpool won just one of their 12.30 games.Last season was particularly difficult for rookies in the early stages.
In that span, the Reds failed to win a single game in six matches. 12.30 results from the start of the 2022/23 seasonLIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Saturday 11 November 2023: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield.
draw 2-2… fulham0:0 draw with EvertonWe lost 1:0… forest of notes”Chelsea” drew 0:0We lost 1:0… BournemouthLost in “Man City” 4:1We won 3-1. A wolfBeat Everton 2:0Things are a little better this season. There was a late win against Wolves in September and a 2-0 win in the Merseyside derby last month.
This leaves Liverpool with a record of 19 wins, 13 draws and 7 defeats in 39 early starts since Klopp took charge in October 2015.That equates to an average of 1.8 points per game, which is probably a bit better than most people think given the horror stories we had at the time!Liverpool, England – Saturday, November 11, 2023: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk applauds the fans after the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield.
There is another game at Crystal Palace next month at 12.30pm. But luckily there’s no international break until March.But perhaps the biggest test awaits him on Saturday.
That’s because Manchester City will host a game that could have wider implications for the title race. Liverpool sit just one point behind Pep Guardiola’s side, who have started the Premier League season well, but their credentials will be tested at the Etihad.Let’s hope United can continue to push forward, although they face another difficult situation after the international break.
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