Liverpool: Where does the Reds' season rank with the best of all time?
Last updated on .From the section Liverpool
"Nobody gets rid of us," said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after his side beat Burnley 4-2 on Sunday to keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City.
There had been claims the Reds were "bottling" the title after slipping off the top, now one point behind champions City, following a run of two wins in five Premier League games - including last Sunday's 0-0 draw with Everton.
"We did not have problems with confidence after the Everton game," Klopp said.
"You don't have to think that all that you write has an influence on us - it's not like that, most of the things are not interesting to us, that's the truth. So you make a big fuss when we score five and we are the best attacking side in the world, then we scored nil and we have an offensive problem."
But, taking City out of it, Liverpool are having their joint-best ever season - and one of the most successful of any team in English top-flight history.
How Reds' season ranks with the greats
This is one of only eight seasons - going all the way back to 1892-93 - when Liverpool's 73 points is not enough to see them top or joint top of the table (if you adjust past tables to three points for a win).
Liverpool are the only team on or above that total to ever not be top at the time. Manchester United in 2011-12 are the only side to have had 73 points or more after 30 games and not won the league - with Manchester City pipping them on goal difference.
Liverpool's tally of 73 points from their opening 30 league games is their joint highest, level with the 1904-05 second tier and the 1987-88 First Division.
| Teams to lose a maximum of one top-flight game in their opening 30 matches |
|---|
| 0 - Arsenal (2004) |
| 1 - Leeds (1974), Liverpool (1988, 2019), Arsenal (1991, 2008), Chelsea (2005), Man City (2018) |
| *Of these sides, only Arsenal in 2008 did not go on to win the league |
'We had the perfect mixture'
The Reds have not won the English title since 1989-90, before the Premier League was formed.
They led by seven points from Manchester City going into their meeting on 3 January, but have since slipped to one point behind them. Ex-Liverpool midfielder and BBC pundit Danny Murphy was among those who wondered if Liverpool were becoming too cautious.
Klopp's side fell behind against Burnley on Sunday to an Ashley Westwood corner, which flew in, but Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane both scored twice in a 4-2 win.
"Our message for today is that nobody gets rid of us if we play as we played today, because we had the perfect mixture of fighting the opponent, fighting the circumstances and playing football," the German said.
He did not see the game as a missed opportunity to boost their goal difference. They are seven goals behind City as well as one point.
"We only needed three points - of course goal difference is important as well but what can you do?" he said.
"To score as many goals as possible, that's what we tried. We could have defended better, but that's not possible."
| Remaining fixtures in the Premier League title race | |
|---|---|
| 1st - Manchester City (P 30, GD 58, PTS 74) | 2nd - Liverpool (P30, GD 51, PTS 73) |
| 30 March v Fulham (A) | 17 March v Fulham (A) |
| 6 April* v Cardiff City (H) | 31 March v Tottenham (H) |
| 14 April* v Crystal Palace (A) | 5 April v Southampton (A) |
| 20 April v Tottenham (H) | 14 April v Chelsea (H) |
| 24 April v Manchester United (A) | 21 April v Cardiff City (A) |
| 28 April* v Burnley (A) | 26 April v Huddersfield Town (H) |
| 4 May* v Leicester City (H) | 4 May* v Newcastle United (A) |
| 12 May v Brighton (A) | 12 May v Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) |
| *Date of fixtures may be changed because of clashes with potential cup ties or television coverage | |
Premier League 2018-19
Make your top-six prediction below
| Premier League's top six form guide | |
|---|---|
| Team | Form over the past 10 league games |
| Liverpool | LWWDDWDWDW |
| Man City | WWWLWWWWWW |
| Tottenham | WLWWWWLLDL |
| Man Utd | WWWDWWDWWL |
| Arsenal | WLWWLWWWDW |
| Chelsea | WDWLLWLWWD |
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Nothing but mere figures. All what matters now is who of City n Liverpool will drop the least points. (and both will, the question is who the least)
Can still be a a couple twists remaining.
Anyways i hope everyone enjoys a close fought title race, i am.
For Liverpool a best ever season can only be a winning season. In terms of greatness, points after x games is completely meaningless until the last game.
But does go to show that any other season Liverpool would be running away with it, and the fact we're not, only underpins also how exceptional this City team is. It's frustrating, but it's also a captivating title race.
Oh dear, must try better.
It was 7 points for one day, as City played the following day.
And by their entire history, you actually mean since the English top flight was re-branded the Premier League. If you want to say entire history, then it is 18 times.
And draws at Old Trafford and Goodison Park are hardly bottling it.
And Spurs haven't won the league in 50 odd years, yet they get a percentage of the ridicule liverpool despite bottling countless finals and chances. There's 8 games to go, and I'd like to point out Man city went from +2 to -7 in literally 4 games. The season could very quickly change once more, we just don't know.
The BBC yet again pushing the myth that football was invented in 1992.😂
Pointless HYS based on the comment, but there you go.
the immense squad of talent city have, enough for 2 full teams of top 4 quality players.
where as liverpool's has been stretched a lot this season, with only the versatile players in the squad keeping us in the title race this season.
There seems to be a trend for running on to the pitch and assulting players!
Something needs to be done fast before anyone gets seriously hurt!
Except:
Chelsea in the League Cup.
Wolves in the FA Cup.
Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Man City in the Premier League.
Bye bye.