Why Liverpool might run out of steam

Though it’s early to suggest Liverpool will be unable to maintain its current form, it might prove to be the case towards the end of the season.

Liverpool, this season, has been by far the best team in the league, apart from Chelsea.

Jurgen Klopp has enjoyed a fine couple of months, ever since they lost to Burnley.

While Klopp might well be running ahead of his managerial counterparts right now, things might not remain like this for long.

Liverpool has a brittle defence.

Before this weekend, the Reds have secured only one clean sheet, which was against Manchester United.

Liverpool has simply outscored their opponents, time and again.

Whether it be a lucky 4-3 escape in the opening game against Arsenal or a 2-1 win against Swansea earlier in October, they have simply managed to get the ball into the back of the net.

While, there is no denying their class up front – with Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho teaming up superbly with their top goal scorer Sadio Mane – their defence though, looks under-cooked.

How long can they outscore their opponents?

Nathaniel Clyne and Ragnar Klavan can barely be described as great. The only Liverpool player that might fall in that bracket would be Joel Matip.

Mamadou Sakho has been disappointing this season, given he has not played a match. After his 30-day suspension finished in May, he was later sent home by Klopp in the offseason for not following team regulations. That certainly did not help the cause.

Another defensive worry for the Reds has been their inability to defend set-pieces, an integral problem yet to be solved.

It is worth noting too that the Liverpool players have covered the most distance on the pitch by any top-flight team. Liverpool ran 582 kilometres in their first four games.

When you consider that the Reds are the third youngest team, behind Tottenham and Newcastle, you might say it is a good attribute. Yet that is primarily responsible for the lack of fitness and freshness of the players at the end of the season.

So far, Klopp has not shown himself to be a big fan of the rotation policy.

Liverpool also lacks in bench strength.

With over ten first-team players leaving the club this summer, Klopp was left to do a big job to sufficiently bolster the bench strength.

But has it been accomplished?

Though the signings of Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane, and Joel Matip, along with three others, have certainly added a fresh breath of air to the first-team, it has barely bolstered the bench.

The bench barely has any impressive names.

Can they hold on until May, with injuries and fatigue a part and parcel of the game? Or will the winter transfer window give Klopp another moment to rethink?

Let me know what you guys think.