You can’t afford to be giving up unnecessary points when the Premier League margins are so narrow, but Liverpool is doing just that against clubs they should be beating.
Despite having 24 shots to the hosts’ eight, Jurgen Klopp’s team was far from brilliant at Luton on Sunday, moving slowly and shooting with little to no accuracy.
But when the final siren went, the scoreboard read 1-1, and Liverpool was forced to rue yet another lacklustre performance—something that has become all too common—against a newly promoted team.
It’s all well and well to take points away from teams positioned higher on the table, but you are leaving yourself open to attack if you don’t do the same to those seated lower.
Klopp’s team had seen similar results at Luton the previous season, when they lost all three of their visits to teams that had been promoted.
Thus, the Reds have only gained two of a potential twelve points in the last four games played at the homes of promoted teams over the course of two seasons.
It’s shocking, to put it mildly. Indeed, since their 5-0 victory at Watford in October 2021, the Reds have not triumphed away from home against a promoted team in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s recent road results against teams that have been promoted
- Drew 1-1 vs. Luton – 2023/24
- Lost 1-0 vs. Bournemouth – 2022/23
- Lost 1-0 vs. Forest – 2022/23
- Drew 2-2 vs. Fulham – 2022/23
- Won 5-0 vs. Watford – 2021/22
- Drew 3-3 vs. Brentford – 2021/22
- Won 3-0 vs. Norwich – 2021/22
- Won 2-1 vs. West Brom – 2020/21
- Drew 1-1 vs. Leeds – 2020/21
- Drew 1-1 vs. Fulham – 2020/21
Even though it has only been four games since Liverpool’s previous victory away at Watford, the overall picture is concerning because, since 2020–2021, Liverpool has only triumphed three times in ten visits to newly promoted teams.
Alisson had to have an incredible finish in order for one of those victories, bringing his total to 14 points out of a potential 30.
In stark contrast, Man City, the winners of the previous three titles, have made a significant difference. Since 2020–21, they have played 11 times against newly promoted teams, earning 29 points out of a possible 33, or an 81 victory percentage!
Liverpool is well aware of the fact that there is very little room for mistake, so handing up points to teams they should be winning merely gives their opponents an upper hand.
Consider Tottenham, who has already visited Bournemouth, Burnley, and Luton in the league and departed with nine points from nine games.
It remains to be seen if Klopp’s team has what it takes to contend for the championship this year, but improving their dismal road record against promoted teams at Burnley and Sheffield United would be a good place to start.
They will try to annoy and hold deep as well, but Liverpool needs to finally find a way to take advantage of their opportunities and stop them from controlling the game. Points cannot be awarded in this manner; something has to change.
