Liverpool completely dominated the 2019/20 season, finishing 18 points ahead of rivals Manchester City and just 1 shy of equalling Sky Blue’s impressive 100-point tally in 2017/18.
Despite hopes from many fans, the Reds got off to a poor start, narrowly avoiding defeat in their opening game against newly-promoted Leeds United and then losing 7-2 to Aston Villa a couple of weeks later. They then drew 2-2 against Everton in the Merseyside Derby.
Things have improved though as the season has progressed and Klopp’s men have found their stride. A 3-0 victory against Leicester City and a 1-1 away draw against Manchester City will be crucial in the club’s defence of its Premier League title.
These performances have helped Liverpool to become the bookmakers’ favourite for the league this year, despite starting the season in second place behind their main rivals Manchester City. The two sides are still very close and the situation could change dramatically over the space of just a few weeks.
Football betting is incredibly competitive, especially during close title battles like the one that is shaping up in 2020/21. This is why brands like Skybet are offering free bet promotions to new customers in the hopes of encouraging them to wager with them instead of a competitor. But is Liverpool going to be a good bet in 2021?
Playing it Down
Throughout the dominant first half of the 2019/20 season, Klopp and the entire Liverpool squad were continually asked what they thought about their chance of winning the Premier League. They were unanimous in their response, reciting the lines “we’re not thinking about the title” each time.
It’s a common line used in football and just about every other sport. It’s better to manage expectations and not pile too much pressure on yourself. However, deep down, everyone knows that the title is at the forefront of their minds.
We’re seeing the same thing again this year. After the club’s 7-0 victory against Crystal Palace, Klopp repeated the same line saying “we don’t think about challenging for the title”, insisting that the team’s focus was solely on winning each game.
We’ve Been Here Before
In the last two seasons, Liverpool has spent Christmas Day at the top of the Premier League. However, 2019/20 was the first time the club was able to convert it to a title. The club also sat there in 1996, 2008, and 2013, only to slide down the standings after the New Year.
In the Premier League’s history, this has happened 13 times, though Liverpool holds the record for the most number of times. Despite holding this unfortunate accolade, history is still on the side of the Kopites. Clubs that are first by Christmas are more likely to end the season there, this is especially true when you look at the last decade. In that time, the club leading in December has won 80% of the time.
What About Big Games?
Winning the Premier League requires a club to do two things: pick up points in matches against rivals and not lose them when playing against smaller clubs. So far this season, Liverpool has managed to do the first one very well and has done a decent job of the second.
The team has won against Chelsea, Arsenal, and Leicester City while drawing against Manchester City. They will face Manchester United in mid-January and then Manchester City and Leicester in the first half of February.
If the Reds can win these games, they’ll have stacked the odds firmly in their favour and will just need to play sensibly until the end of May. The biggest risks to their success would then be sickness, injury, or suspension, though the latter seems relatively unlikely as the squad is well disciplined.
Can Liverpool Win The Title Again in 2021?
Only people with a crystal ball can tell you whether Liverpool will win the Premier League again this season, but the team are looking pretty strong at present. A lot can change between now and May though, especially with just over half of the games left to play.