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'Everybody thinks you have to win absolutely every single game' | Mark Lawrenson on Liverpool stumble

Mark Lawrenson believes it is unreasonable for Liverpool supporters to expect them to canter to t...



Soccer

'Everybody thinks you have to win absolutely every single game' | Mark Lawrenson on Liverpool stumble

Mark Lawrenson believes it is unreasonable for Liverpool supporters to expect them to canter to the Premier League title once again.

Lawrenson drew parallels between the current side and the team he played in during the 1980s that dominated English football, winning five domestic titles and one European Cup.

Liverpool striker, Sadio Mane celebrates a goal "I was in the gym on Monday and this fella started moaning to me about Liverpool [and their performance against West Brom]," Lawrenson said.
"He was a Liverpool fan. I said 'what the hell, we have been unbelievable for however long it has been since Klopp is in charge.

"That is what happens, we had it in our time as well. Everybody thinks you have to win absolutely every single game. It just does not happen, even more so now than it did then.

"Other teams are prepared for the way you play tactically and they can work all week on things [to counter] you."

Liverpool should expect the same approach from Newcastle 

Jurgen Klopp credited West Brom at the end of the encounter.

"It's an incredible challenge to stay active and stay lively when you constantly face 10 men. To be fair to West Brom they did their job for 90 minutes, we were 1-0 up and they didn't change one bit," the German said.

Klopp did rue the fact that Liverpool were not clinical and failed to finish the game off.

That will be the challenge that the champions face once more against a Newcastle side with only one win in the month of December. The two meet at St. James' Park on Wednesday evening.

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp (Clive Brunskill/Pool via AP)

Liverpool will approach the game in a similar fashion, according to Lawrenson, looking to dominate possession but add a ruthlessness in the final third.

"They will not be bothered [about the result]," Lawrenson said.

"Where are they tomorrow, Newcastle? It will be very similar because of the difficulties Newcastle have had with COVID, some players not being fully fit and Steve Bruce is under a little bit of pressure.

"They will sit in and try and create an odd opportunity against Liverpool."

Lawrenson believes that while plenty of teams will try and absorb the suffocating pressure that Liverpool put on, not many will be able to keep the front of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, out as West Brom managed to do.

"The three players up front, plus Jota when he was fit, have been unbelievable," he said.

"The last three years, going into the fourth, they have hardly got injured. If all three are not playing brilliantly on the day, one of them is.

"They just create so many chances and score so many goals. These three, are quite simply the best trio that Liverpool have ever had," Lawrenson concluded.

Are there concerns for Liverpool at the other end of the pitch?

So far Liverpool have managed their injury worries at centre-half admirably.

After Joel Matip limped off on Sunday against West Brom, Damien Delaney made the point that Liverpool would be creating pressure on themselves should they not enter the transfer market and sign another player for the heart of their defence.

Lawrenson believes that his former side dominate possession so thoroughly that they have yet to be truly tested at the back where Fabinho has slotted in comfortably.

Liverpool forward Mo Salah dribbles with the ball "You never really get the ball against Liverpool and therein lies the problem," he said.

A number of younger players have also come into the fold, including Rhys Williams, and impressed. Williams will continue to grow as he gains further Premier League experience.

Sterner tests await Klopp's back four in the coming weeks, something that Lawrenson is acutely aware of.

"When they play against Manchester United and teams like that we will see how they are [at the back] although there is not a great worry."

Over the course of January and February, Liverpool play host to Manchester United and Manchester City, while also travelling to London to face Tottenham Hotspur.

Those games will have a massive say in whether Klopp and co can march on and retain the Premier League title.

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Jurgen Klopp Lfc Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Mo Salah Premier League Roberto Firmino Sadio Mane