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.
As his Newport team-mates were celebrating a stunning FA Cup win over Championship side Middlesbrough on Tuesday, goalkeeper Joe Day was sprinting down the tunnel after hearing his wife had gone
Life Cycle Of Stars study guide by Hammertaf includes 10 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades.
England manager Gareth Southgate revealed his frustrations over the Champions League schedule "mess" which could hinder his preparations for the upcoming UEFA National League finals. The Three Lions are one of four teams competing in this summer's Nations League finals along with hosts Portugal, Netherlands and Switzerland.
Jurgen Klopp: Nations League semi-final after Champions
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday (March 15). The 34-year-old's decision means PSG have an extra space in their squad for a non-EU player. Silva has played 274 games since joining the reigning Ligue 1 champions in 2012 and has 77 caps for Brazil.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award, saying their decision was unfair to
Ballon d'Or winner, Modric criticises Ronaldo, Messi over
The Norwegian Town Where the Sun Doesn't Rise - The Atlantic
LIVERPOOL: Everton avoided a third consecutive Premier League home defeat as Kurt Zouma's header and a late goal by Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned them a flattering 2-0 victory against Bournemouth
Everton ride luck for 2-0 victory at home to Bournemouth
MANCHESTER: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrated his first game as permanent Manchester United manager with a 2-1 Premier League win over Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday. It was a far from impressive performance from United but goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial earned the victory which moved them up to fourth in the table, level on
Man Utd 2-1 Watford | Rashford & Martial Goals Give Ole Win
Meanwhile, U18 National Team Head Coach Fadzuhasny Juraimi has called up six players from Singapore Premier League clubs. Philippe Aw, U15 National Team Head Coach, said: "This tournament is important for our U15 boys as most of them will be playing international matches for the first time.
Timor Leste News from Singapore, Latest Timor Leste News from
news.trendingnews.co.in/singapore/timor-leste
Get the Timor Leste News from Singapore, Latest Timor Leste News from Singapore, Trending Timor Leste News from Singapore, Current Timor Leste News From Singapore on trendingnews.co.in. Grab exclusive coverage on breaking national news, current politics, regional and educational news with trending now, most popular from Singapore.
National Teams - Age-group - Football Association of Singapore
Worries that a Barcelona stroll to the title will be boring to watch are not on Ernesto Valverde's mind after his team's latest big win en route to reclaiming their LaLiga crown. ( marca.com ) submitted 1 year ago by scadonl
Messi Secures Barcelona 26th LaLiga Title For His Personal 10th
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola bemoaned VAR's failure to rule out Fernando Llorente's decisive goal for Tottenham as Manchester City's quadruple bid was shattered by a "cruel
Pep Guardiola will be seen as a Champions League failure. But
Maurizio Sarri is a top manager and his methods can and potentially will still work at Chelsea but, for Chelsea to succeed, Maurizio Sarri needs more time. Maurizio Sarri Needs More Time Deja Vu? Almost one year ago to the day, Chelsea lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth under Antonio Conte. The following week they went away to Vicarage Road and
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink names the two players - metro.co.uk
Rangers are poised to sign Bournemouth's former England striker Jermain Defoe on an 18-month loan deal. The 36-year-old has been restricted to just four substitute appearances in the Premier
Title-chasing Rangers sign Defoe on loan - worldfootball.net
Cristiano Ronaldo has been passed fit to play for Juventus in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday, coach Massimiliano Allegri has told Sky Italia.
Max Allegri reveals Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit for Ajax clash
London-born Nico Yennaris said he was "very proud" after becoming the first foreign-born footballer to represent China in their 2-0 victory over the Philippines on Friday. The former Arsenal and
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming video
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch sky sports premier league live stream
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch soccer live stream links
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch premier league games live stream
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch soccer live stream app
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
free watch champions league live streaming
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch premier league live streaming live
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live in stream
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch premier league stream reddit
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch the premier league live stream
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch live soccer game today
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch indian premier league live streaming
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch premier league live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer world cup live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch english premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch soccer game live now
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
#Barca #freekick #commentimemorabili #beatifulgame #premierleague #realmadridcf #JUVENTUS #championship #mensnightout #sunderlandafc #cr7 #roadtrip #liverpoolfans #arsenal #pagani #romania #risate #manunited #bayernmunich #bundesliga #rockstar #manchestercity #coys #manchesterunited #liverpoolfc #panini #neymar #GarageCafeDxb #juventus #ronaldo #cristianoronaldo #adidasslipon #girlsniteout #ballondor #football #footballfans #PartyTime #copaamerica #fut #boxing #klopp #lfc #liverpoolcity #myfootballuniverse #elcasico #soccermemes #BMW #Suarez #manchestercity #oudmehta #villarealcf #champion #thomasmeunier #livesports #coffeebreak #vip #footballmeme #portsmouthfc #rugby #satira #chocolatecoffee #4Series #liverpool #zidane #oasis #oasisengland #england #league2 #premierleague #uefanationsleague #championsleague #streamingbolaid #soccerbible #winner #oasisofficial #freekicks #americanfootball #gym #kickoff #frasitrap #realmadrid #golf #arsenalfantv #nationsleague #calciatoribrutti #comics #kopisusu #sixtimes #knuckleball #oasisandbeatles #bayern
No comments:
Post a Comment