22 points ahead – at Liverpool FC everything is currently going according to plan. Picture: EPA
–
Chasing records – Liverpool could still break these 8 records on the way to the title
The first championship title for Liverpool FC since 1990 only seems to be a matter of form. The Reds are already 22 points ahead of the first chaser Manchester City after 25 of 38 laps. Nothing should go wrong there. Especially when you consider how Liverpool is performing at the moment. Jürgen Klopp’s team storms from victory to victory with dream-like security.
So the question is no longer if Liverpool won the championship for the first time in 30 years, but how the “Reds” do that. How many records they break by the end of the season. There are several top marks on the serving tray.
Most points: 100
Manchester City was the first Premier League team to score 100 points in the 2017/18 season. Under Pep Guardiola, the “Citizens” suffered only two defeats in 38 games, four draws. Last season ManCity won 98 points, Liverpool came 97 points.
Liverpool could even surpass the magical 100-point mark this year. The Premier League leader is currently 73 points thanks to 24 wins and a draw. If Liverpool wins all 13 remaining games by the end of the season, the “Reds” score 112 points. Jürgen Klopp’s boys could afford three defeats and a draw to beat ManCity.
Lose three more times? Jürgen Klopp cannot imagine that either. Picture: EPA
–
Most wins: 32
In the two master seasons under Pep Guardiola (2017/18 and 2018/19), Manchester City had 32 wins each. Liverpool are now 24 wins and could set the record against Brighton in mid-April at the earliest and beat Burnley in late April. To break the record, they need 9 wins in the remaining 13 championship games.
On the way to the 2018 championship title, ManCity won 32 out of 38 games. Image: AP / AP
–
Least defeats: 0
Arsenal won the Premier League in the 2003/04 season without a single defeat: 26 wins and 12 draws were enough for the «Invincibles» around Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp at the time for the 13th and so far last title of the «Gunners». As the first undefeated champion in history, Arsène Wenger’s team received a gold mini edition of the Premier League Cup as a special reward.
Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira accepted the gold mini trophy. picture: ap
–
Liverpool’s chances of becoming unbeaten champions like Arsenal 16 years ago are still intact. The biggest stumbling block on the way to this is probably the away game at Manchester City on April 4th. Shortly before the end of the season, Arsenal will visit Chelsea on the second last day of the game at Anfield. At the very end, Liverpool should no longer lose at Newcastle United.
The remaining program of Liverpool FC:
picture: screenshot world football
–
Most wins in a row: 18
Across the seasons, Liverpool streaked 17 to a 1-1 draw with Manchester United last October. Jürgen Klopp’s team only missed Manchester City’s record by one success. But now the record of 18 wins in a row is shaking again. The “Reds” have won 16 times in a row since the draw in Manchester.
If Norwich City and West Ham United are also swept off the pitch on the next two matchdays, Liverpool will set the “Citizens” record. To beat him, another win away at Watford would be needed.
Liverpool seem invincible at the moment. Picture: EPA
–
Most goals: 106
On the way to the 100-point season, ManCity also scored over 100 goals in the 2017/18 season. 106 to be exact. On average, the “Citizens” scored 2.79 goals per game.
Liverpool are currently 60 goals in 25 games, five goals behind ManCity. The average of currently 2.4 goals per game would not be enough to bring the ManCity record to anywhere. For the record, Liverpool would have to score 3.54 goals per game in the remaining 13 games. This goal rate is probably out of reach even for Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Co.
Sergio Agüero accounted for 21 of ManCity’s 106 goals, while Raheem Sterling was second best with 18 goals. Image: AP / AP
–
Least number of goals conceded: 15
Chelsea only conceded 15 goals in their first championship season in 2004/05, under the new owner Roman Abramovich, on the way to the title. Liverpool, which is currently conceding 15 goals, can no longer break the record. To hire him, “Reds” keeper Allison Becker should not receive a single goal Not a really likely scenario either.
Petr Cech was, of course, recognized as the best Premier League goalie in 2005. picture: twitter
–
Longest unbeatenness: 49 games
After defeating Arsenal without defeat in the 2003/04 season, the «Gunners» continued their unbeatenness in the next season 10 more games. Overall, Arsène Wenger’s team came to 49 games without defeat. Only at the famous “Battle of the Buffet” against Manchester United with the many brutal and unpunished fouls did Arsenal lose again after one and a half years.
Actually, this record of the “Invincibles” was considered a record for eternity, but now Arsenal has to tremble for the first time. Liverpool have been unbeaten in the Premier League for 42 games. Most recently, they lost to Manchester City on 3 January 2019 (1: 2) – now Liverpool could draw in a duel against the «Citizens» with Arsenal and remain unbeaten for the 49th time in a row. A week later, on April 11th, the sole record of 50 games without defeat waves.
Biggest title lead: 19 points
In the grandiose 100-point season two years ago, Manchester City won the championship title by 19 points over city rival ManUnited. Never before in England had a team become a superior champion. This could change with Liverpool FC: 22 points is currently the lead over the first chaser ManCity. If the “Reds” still win the pending direct duel against the Pep Guardiola team, you could afford two losses to at least set the record – provided that ManCity wins all twelve remaining games.
Guardiola: «Jürgen, you will never break our record!» Image: AP / AP
–
Already broken
The fastest way to beat all opponents
On January 23, Liverpool won 2-1 at the Wolverhampton Wanderers and thus achieved something historic: for the first time in 127-year club history, the Reds had defeated all Premier League opponents at least once in one season – and faster than any team before. The 18-time English champions only needed 24 game days.
Before Liverpool, three other Premier League clubs managed to defeat all of their opponents at least once: Chelsea in the 2005/06 season, ManUnited in the 2010/11 and 2017/18 seasons, and ManCity in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons , ManCity was the fastest two years ago, when a 3-1 win at Everton on match day 32 was enough to complete the 19 wins.
First the FA Cup:
Before Liverpool can go on chasing records in the Premier League, the unwelcome replay against third-division team Shrewsbury Town is scheduled for the FA Cup today. The game will go without the big Liverpool stars and Jürgen Klopp. Because of the tightly packed program and because he already promised his players a few vacation days in the only game-free winter week, the Liverpool coach decided to let the U23 run against Shrewsbury. A not exactly popular decision: Klopp is harshly criticized for this on all sides.
«This is unprecedented. I’m really disappointed, »said TV expert Martin Keown. Andy Holt, owner of the third division side Accrington Stanley, even called for drastic measures against Liverpool: «This is a battle that the FA has to win, but on the other hand its parade competition will be completely undermined. Liverpool must be severely punished. Football is not theirs alone. It belongs to all of us. »
