LONDON (REUTERS) - Liverpool's push for a first English title in 29 years faces another test when they host Arsenal on Saturday (Dec 29) but the evidence suggests their formidable defence could be their key to ending a frustrating wait for a championship in the Premier League era.
The roar that swept like wildfire around the ground when Manchester City's defeat to Leicester City was confirmed on Wednesday told its own story - Anfield really is beginning to believe.
For while Juergen Klopp's unbeaten Liverpool were easing to a 4-0 win over Newcastle United to bring the dream of that elusive 19th English title into sharper focus, champions City were suffering a second straight defeat in less than a week.
So, at halfway, the gap between Liverpool and City, who slipped to third spot, now stands at seven points - and a comparison between their defensive records offers one of the major reasons why.
For Liverpool, boosted by signings of exceptional centre back Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson, have conceded just seven goals in 19 matches this season, 16 less than at the same stage last term.
City, in contrast, have shipped 15 goals and will arrive at Southampton on Sunday without a clean sheet in their previous nine games in all competitions.
Liverpool's attacking prowess has been long admired but full back Trent Alexander-Arnold points to how it now goes hand in hand with defensive stability at Anfield, where they have won eight of their nine league games, conceding just two goals.
"We have shown we're tough to beat and not only that, we're tough to score past. Not many teams come here and can score past us," the 20-year-old told the club website.
"We have kept a lot of clean sheets, especially at home. It's something we pride ourselves on as defenders and throughout the whole team.
"That's the foundation we've got to lay, then provide the balls for the attackers to go and do what they do best, scoring us goals."
Fifth-placed Arsenal were the last team to nick a point from Liverpool in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates last month, but Unai Emery's side have since lost their way, dropping seven points in their last three games on the road.
An error from Stephan Lichtsteiner cost Arsenal dearly as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday.
Arsenal were without four centre back options at the Amex Stadium and Emery will hope Nacho Monreal and Shkodran Mustafi could return for the weekend's clash.
CITY DEFENSIVE WOES
After conceding five goals in back-to-back defeats by Crystal Palace and Leicester, Man City manager Pep Guardiola is also concerned about his team's defensive discipline.
"We started the season with clean sheets, we conceded five goals in I don't know how many games. It was incredible how stable it was," Guardiola said.
"But right now we are conceding goals and it's one of the big issues. We have a specific quality of players.
"We have players to play with a ball and it's not a team built to just defend a lot of the time. But you have to make that effort to change that dynamic."
Tottenham Hotspur stepped up their title drive this week, scoring 11 goals while defeating Everton and Bournemouth to move into second place, and they could wrap up the year with a sixth straight league win when hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will look to continue his 100 per cent winning start as they take on Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Following a 3-1 win over Huddersfield Town, United remain sixth, eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who visit Crystal Palace on Sunday.
'Robust' security steps for Champs League final
Huddersfield manager Jan Siewert has backed Philip Billing after the club's Danish midfielder was subjected to "brainless" racist abuse on social media.
Huddersfield condemn racist abuse of Billing -football- my.t
Recalling Origi's "lucky goal", the Portuguese manager also mocked the manner in which the Reds boss celebrated the win as if it "was the final of a World Cup". EVERTON V LIVERPOOL Singtel TV
When the Reds will compete in the Club World Cup
La Liga: Real Madrid end campaign with 12th league defeat With Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos and Thibaut Courtois all sitting on the bench, Betis forward Loren Moron put the visitors in front in the
Football: Real Madrid sink to 10th league loss at hands of
Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool manager fined £45,000 by FA for
Europa League hat-trick hero Giroud hoping for EPL chance
Football: Pochettino gives backing to under-fire Lloris LONDON (AFP) - Mauricio Pochettino said on Tuesday (April 2) that Hugo Lloris will remain in goal for Tottenham despite a series of costly errors this season.
Pochettino gives backing to under-fire Lloris -football- my.t
Hougang United v Balestier Khalsa Live'StReam!! Short Preview The neighbours in a tournament table will play in a very interesting match (ranked 3 and 5). Hougang United is in actual amazing shape (in the last 5 games wins - 3).
Chonburi News, Scores, Schedule, Stats, Teamsheet - soccer
Milan draw another blank in Frosinone stalemate. Pressure continues to pile on Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso after a draw against Frosinone.
Milan draw another blank in Frosinone stalemate - Football
While participation by girls in sports has increased at all levels (Olympic, professional, college and high school, and youth) and society is more accepting than ever of female athleticism, the fact that girls continue to drop out of sports at six times the rate of boys is an indication that we still have a long way to go as a society in reaching the goal of gender equality in sports.
PDF Adult participation in sport: analysis of the Taking Part Survey
Raheem Sterling blamed "silly mistakes" for England's defeat to Netherlands in the semi-finals of the Nations League. England were beaten 3-1 in Guimaraes despite having taken a first-half lead
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared disgruntled after realising his teammate Bernardo Silva had beaten him to the Uefa Nations League Player of the Tournament award. Portugal beat the Netherlands in the
Nations League: More than just Cristiano Ronaldo! Portugal
Jahanbakhsh on target as Iran ease past Oman into last eight Reuters - Three-times champions Iran came through an early scare before marching confidently into the Asian Cup quarter-finals for the 13th time in 14 attempts with a 2-0 victory over a spirited Oman team on Sunday.
Jahanbakhsh on target as Iran ease past Oman into last eight
Man Utd's Martial, Lingard to miss Chelsea, Liverpool matches
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch live stream soccer games online free
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch champions league final live streaming
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch soccer aid live stream
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch champions league live streaming now
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer live stream apk
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming yify
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch us soccer live stream
watch live soccer game today
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch soccer games live stream free
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live in stream
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
#commentimemorabili #premierleague #portsmouthfc #streamingbolaid #fcbarcelona #league1 #oasisandbeatles #alissonbecker #zidane #visubal #pagani #mane #bayervshoffenheim #knuckleball #serieatim #ronaldo #hotcoffee #MyDubai #MSport #Liamgallagher #risate #livestreams #neymar #cristiano #goodday #messi #conference #sunderlandafc #girlsniteout #midnight #Liverpool #leicestercity #footballdubai #salah #acmilan #panini #mancityvsliverpool #realmadrid #chocolatecoffee #adidasslipon #arsenalfantv #manunited #manchestercity #lfc #coffeebreak #footballmemes #transfernews #battuteepiche #juventus #commento #ballondor #firmino #insegreto #tokyo #thebeatles #gym #Bar #oasisofficial #football #chocolate #nikesoccer #premierleague #klopp #meunier #coutinho #hoffenhiem #comics #londoncity #kopisusu #beatifulgame #myfootballuniverse #frasirap #vip #Vip45 #trollfootball #thomasmeunier #zinedinezidane #frasitrap #championsleague #PartyTime #soccer #leomessi #lovefootball #footballfans #vandijk #valcea #manchestercity #sumbertv #realmadridcf #GarageCafeDxb #soccer #americanfootball #calciatoribrutti #footballmeme #BMW #linkstreaming #coyg
No comments:
Post a Comment