It’s December and Liverpool are making their fans believe again. Jürgen Klopp has been in charge for just under two months now, and his much-quoted line, “we want to turn doubters, into believers,” is already ringing true.
Klopp was most people’s first choice to replace Brendan Rodgers at the helm, even if he was seen as an unrealistic choice by some.
Two months later and I struggle to think of a time when the charismatic German wasn’t leading us. Whether practicing Scouse phrases in a light-hearted interview or gleefully congratulating his players at the end of each performance, the man fits the job perfectly and can seem to do no wrong as of now.
The players have responded to Klopp. The players have responded to Klopp in the same way that fans should now respond to the players. Jordon Ibe seems to have found a new lease of life. Emre Can has become the best player in the world at times and is beautifully flawed at others. Christian Benteke is struggling but still finds the net at a rate of one goal in two games. Philippe Coutinho is the reason I get up in the morning. These players believe, and in turn fans are starting to truly invest in them again.
Let’s talk about fixtures. Let’s talk about how Liverpool have played every single away match that we look out for at the start of the season already. Manchester United, Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham. Maybe Stoke because of recent times. Liverpool have travelled to all these places and claimed three victories, battled to three draws and suffered one defeat. Everyone suffers defeats. They happen, and at the start of December Liverpool have already been to all the places where defeats tend to happen.
The final whistle at Anfield last Sunday was greeted by a wave of relief. Relief that Swansea and their surprising resilience had been seen off. Relief that Jürgen Klopp had a home win in the Premier League under his belt. Relief is a strange emotion in football; it only occurs when things matter. This game mattered. It mattered because Liverpool have managed to get themselves handily placed in the league at the start of December. This league is not a good league and Liverpool are only six points behind their end goal. Why wouldn’t fans be excited at this?
It’s not too early for fans to be excited. It never is. It’s not ‘cool’ to bounce around saying “yes well, we might be decently placed but there’s a long way to go yet,” because no one really cares. No one is saying we WILL win the league, but everyone should be saying we CAN win it.
If 2013-14 was a near perfect storm, then what exactly is this season? The champions of that season had a spectacular fall under the tuition of David Moyes, whereas this year’s champions are led by a man who is looking like he’s closer and closer to cracking each day.
The ‘smaller’ sides are taking points off everyone all over again. It’s time to go around telling everyone how good we are football, even when we’re not. A fortunate win via penalty? Oh, well doesn’t count then. Not like 13-14 was littered with sweet, sweet victories partially caused by fortune. History looks to be repeating itself, but the legend dictates that lightening doesn’t strike twice. If this is the case, then logic says that Liverpool HAVE to win the league. Just because.
