Can Liverpool win the league? Short answer, yes.

Liverpool Football Club are having their joint best season after reaching 73 points from 30 games. However, they sit in 2^nd place behind City, unlike the previous seven times they have reached this feat. The last time Liverpool achieved this tally at this point of the season was in the spring of 1988. Liverpool went on to win the 17^th title this season, finishing 9 points ahead of Manchester United. Liverpool won the league once more, in 1990, the second to last season of the First Division.

Before the Premier League era began, Liverpool were the dominant force of English Football winning 12 titles, four European Cups, two UFEA Cups, three FA Cups and four consecutive League Cups all during an 18 years period from 1972-1990. Since the start of the Premier League, Liverpool have struggled to keep pace with Chelsea and Manchester City receiving huge investments. However, Premier League era has seen Manchester United overtake their Merseyside rivals to become the most successful side in England.

So, can Liverpool win the league this season? At the start of 2019, Liverpool went to Manchester City in first place, 7 points clear of the Cityzens. A seven-point lead on New Years Day has never been overturned in the history of English Football. Despite losing 2-1, Liverpool were still in the driving seat with a four-point cushion. At the last match week of January, City were up first and surprisingly lost 2-1 to Newcastle, despite scoring first. This was Liverpool’s chance to increase that gap back to seven as they hosted Leicester. After going 1-0 up in the 3^rd minute, poor defending, reminiscent of pre-Van Dijk back four, saw Liverpool concede right on half time. The game finished 1-1.

In their last 10 games, Liverpool have won just five and lost one, opposed to Manchester City’s run on nine wins and one loss does shine worrying light on Liverpool’s title credentials. Liverpool’s last away goal came on the 4^th of February when playing West Ham. Their next away fixtures were away to Manchester United and Everton. In a normal season, 0-0 draws at Old Trafford and Goodison Park would be considered good results. However, during this run of poor away form, Manchester City were able to take the initiative to get themselves back into pole position. Liverpool’s best ever Premier League points tally came in the 2008/09 season, finishing in second with 86 points. Whilst this left them four short of the summit, it really did appear to be Liverpool’s year. However, costly draws against lower league opposition at Anfield saw them miss out. With only two losses and undefeated at home, Liverpool drew 11 games seeing their wait for a title challenge go on for 5 more years.

Whilst in 2013/14 season Liverpool finished two points below their record, this will still be remembered as Liverpool’s best season in the Premier League. With three games remaining, Liverpool were five points ahead of Chelsea and need to win at least two out three. Chelsea were the visitors to Anfield and Mourinho the pantomime villain of the occasion. Mourinho very nearly didn’t travel to the game as he was suffering from flu. Just before halftime, Gerrard received a short pass from Sakho which slipped under his foot. Turning to keep the ball under control, he slipped allowing Demba Ba a 1-on-1 opportunity. He scored. Liverpool now chasing the game appeared to be struggling mentally. Liverpool had 73% possession, twice as many shots and 14 corners but were still unable to get past the proverbial Mourinho bus. As the game went on and Liverpool became more desperate to get an equaliser allowed Torres to run through before squaring it to Willian. The game ended 2-0. With City having a game in hand and now being two points behind Liverpool, the Reds had to try gain ground on City’s goal difference. A visit to Crystal Palace, Liverpool led 3-0 with 10 minutes to go. Somehow, the game ended 3-3. City had won the day before and now sat one point behind Liverpool. However, City had a game in hand on Liverpool meaning the Cityzens had six points available, whilst Liverpool only had three to play for. City won their game in midweek, not taking them top and two points ahead. Liverpool now needed to beat Newcastle and see West Ham take all three points away from the Etihad Stadium. Liverpool pushed it all the way, it had slipped through their fingertips. This now had Liverpool going into the 25^th year without winning the league, one short of Manchester United before they won it in 1991/92.

Five years on and now 29 since their last league title, Liverpool, again found themselves in the driving seat. Poor results for City during the Christmas period allowed Liverpool a seven-point lead. Since the turn of the year, Liverpool’s form has dipped, losing their first game of the year away to City and then struggling for away form. In 2019, Liverpool have only won 1 out their 5 away games, beating Brighton 1-0. Since then, they have drawn three consecutive away games. The Reds’ home form has prevailed, picking up 13 points from a possible 15 in 2019. Whilst City now lead the title race, Liverpool, who were knocked out of the FA Cup are away to Fulham this Sunday, the last round of fixtures before the international break. This gives Liverpool a chance to retake top spot. Whilst Man City will have played one fewer game, their match being postponed is the Manchester Derby and won’t be played until the 24^th of April. If Manchester do progress to the semi-final then they will have another game moved to accommodate possibly allowing Liverpool to move further ahead.

The only issue that presents itself to Liverpool is that they have not won the league. Only one member of the Liverpool squad has won the Premier League and that was James Milner with Manchester City. Liverpool have been so close before but in 2008/09 draws at home against teams like Hull City and Fulham proved costly. Again in 2014, as Liverpool were closing in on their first title for 24 years, cracks in the foundations of the team began to show. Gerrard’s costly mistake seemed to be the turning point as Liverpool imploded a missing out on that elusive trophy.

Now, 10 years on from Rafa’s men nearly reaching their goal, Liverpool are powering on with Klopp. The German manager has revitalised the hope fans had and made them believe again. Klopp has been with Liverpool since October 2015 and has since shaken things up with his signings and style of play. Attacking, Liverpool strike fear into any opponent and, with the arrival of Van Dijk and Alisson, Liverpool have patched up their leaky defence. As they’ve drifted behind City following the poor form they have shown since New Year, Liverpool now have a chance to reinvigorate their title challenge. By leapfrogging City this weekend will ship the pressure back down the M62. With a victory on Sunday, Liverpool will go two points ahead again. City are then faced with five of their last eight games being away from home, including the Manchester Derby which is the game in hand.

Sure, in the past Liverpool have let slip the title through poor results or struggling to see the job through, but this season feels different. Klopp has the experience of winning league titles, winning two in Germany. Whilst Milner is the only player to have won the Premier League, he has experienced winning it on goal difference. Liverpool seem to be in a stronger position than ever to win the league. Liverpool need to take the opportunity of winning on Sunday to recharge their away batteries and improve their away form. It is time for them to take full advantage of this; 30 years is too long to wait.