After a successful campaign where the club secured a top four finish and reached the final of the Champions League, Jürgen Klopp and his Liverpool team are determined to improve this season and mount a serious title challenge. The Premiership betting odds suggests that the club are on course to challenge for the title, but are likely to fall short of winning it.
The players have been on top form all season and have yet to lose a game. However, there are a couple of players which have been performing above expectations.
Virgil van Dijk
At the start of Jürgen Klopp’s reign, there were always questions surrounding the defence. The Reds’ were having no issue finding the back of the net, but they were struggling to keep goals out at the other end. However, that all changed in January this year when Virgil van Dijk joined the club.
The Netherlands captain joined the club for £75 million from Southampton. The transfer was a world record fee for a defender, but van Dijk has shown his worth by revitalised the defence since his arrival. The centre back also played a key part in the club’s run to the final of the Champions League, being named in the UEFA Champions League squad of the season despite only being at the club for six months.
The Dutchman has continued his fine form into this season and is one of the reasons why the Reds’ boast a superb defensive record, having the least goals conceded in the league after 14 games. Van Dijk also won the Liverpool Player of the Month award in August.
Alisson
After the defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League final where Loris Karius made two high profile mistakes, the club wasted no time in getting a new first choice keeper in as soon as possible. Roma keeper Alisson was the first choice, and the club secured their man in July for a fee of around £66 million.
The Brazilian has experienced an enjoyable start to his Liverpool career, keeping 10 clean sheets in 19 games in all competitions. Although he made a high-profile mistake in a 2-1 win against Leicester City, Alisson has received praise from fans and pundits for his impressive performances.
Mohamed Salah
Last year Mohamed Salah had the season of his career, finishing with 32 goals in the league and broke the record for most goals in a 38-game Premier League season. Although the Egyptian experienced a disappointing World Cup campaign with his country in the summer, that hasn’t stopped his goal scoring form as the forward is currently at the top of the scoring charts for his club.
Even though he isn’t as lethal as he was last season, the Egyptian has scored some vital goals for the club to ensure their unbeaten start to the season goes on.
Sadio Mane
On the opposite wing to Salah is Senegal international Sadio Mane. He joined the club back in June 2016 for a fee of £34 million which made him the most expensive African player in history at the time. Since his arrival at the club, Mane has become an integral part of the squad and formed an incredible partnership with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
His goal tally in the league was disappointing last season, only finding the back of the net 10 times. However, the Senegalese forward has made a much better start to the season this year, already scoring 6 times in 12 league games. Even though he has gone a couple games without a goal, the amount of chances that Liverpool create means that he won’t be on a goal-scoring drought for long.