The problem Jurgen Klopp needs to solve if Liverpool are to win the Premier League again
Liverpool: Klopp says team must improve for top-four finish
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Just a year after winning their first title in 30 years, Liverpool have suffered a torrid season in the Premier League. The Reds saw their title defence collapse early in the season and are now on the verge of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League.
With Manchester City seemingly back to their best after marching to the top of the league with relative ease this season, Liverpool will now be analysing what they must do to challenge them.
Perhaps Liverpool’s biggest issue has been their home form, with Jurgen Klopp’s men at one point going six matches without a win at Anfield.
That set an unwanted new club record and is something that must change next season if the Reds are to win the Premier League.
The Reds’ home form is the sixth-best in the top-flight, with City winning eight more points when they are the hosts this campaign.
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It is a problem that has become especially apparent against the sides at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Klopp’s side have picked up just two points from their home matches against West Brom, Burnley, Fulham, Brighton and Newcastle.
The two draws came against struggling Newcastle and relegated West Brom, with the issues that have plagued Liverpool all season apparent in all five games.
While the Reds have dominated matches, they have failed to hit the back of the net with the same regularity as last season.
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In fact, Klopp’s side have scored just 27 goals at home this season, the worst of any side currently in the top seven of the Premier League.
That lack of goals has been combined with injuries to key defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, with Liverpool looking more open at the back as a result.
While most of their losses at home have been by a narrow margin, the Reds have the second worst defence at home of the top seven.
The struggles at Anfield this term are in stark contrast to their fortunes at home in their title winning campaign.
Their home form that season was at the cornerstone of their success, with the Reds going unbeaten at Anfield.
In fact, they only dropped points on two occasions, scoring 55 goals and conceding just 10 times all year.
Astonishingly, Liverpool have performed better away from home this year, picking up 13 points from 15 when playing Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham.
But with City perennially the best performers at home in the Premier League, Klopp must fix his side’s issues at Anfield if the Reds are to challenge Pep Guardiola’s side again.
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