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While the noise around Liverpool has focused on the lack of defensive options this season, it is on the other end that the problems have spread more recently.
Since the 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace on December 19, the timid Reds appear to have run out of ideas in the final third.
A single goal in their last three games has slowed the momentum to a virtual stalemate ahead of Sunday’s visit from new league leaders Manchester United.
Liverpool’s famous threat from both full-backs has been blunted, while their top three Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino have at times looked tired.
The story of this trio of games is the same; the lion’s share of possession didn’t result in anything seriously disturbing a defensive opposition content to sit down deep.
Against West Brom, Liverpool had up to 79% possession but were limited to just two shots on target on December 27.
Three days later, the champions would dominate again with 74%. Their four shots against goalkeeper Karl Darlow were all repelled.
And after scoring a goal in under two minutes at St Mary’s on Jan.4, the champions were unable to force an effort on goal until the 75th minute, when an underworked Fraser Forster easily held the effort. by Mane.
It is different from Klopp’s Liverpool to appear so devoid of invention, especially for such a long time.
With the exception of Mane’s sublime finish against West Brom, the Reds have spent the last 270 minutes of Premier League football desperate for a spark.
So what is wrong?
While a caveat can be given that seven were looted in the same game, winning that game at Selhurst Park still places Liverpool with 30 goals in 16 games this season.
That, in the same number of matches, is five better than Manchester City and two more than Everton has managed in his full complement of 17.
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But would it be unwise to dismiss the recent round of forms as nothing more than a mid-season blip?
After all, 14 of those 37 goals have been scored in just three games against Palace, Wolves and Leicester.
Perhaps of all the injury issues this season – and there have been a lot of them – they suffer the most from the lack of a tip provided by Diogo Jota?
The Portugal international has spent the first months of his career at Anfield surpassing all expectations of the start of the season, with nine in total.
Such was his form that Klopp decided to change his system to 4-2-3-1 in order to welcome the former Wolves star alongside Salah, Mane and Firmino.
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His arrival was brought about to help ease the goal burden on the aforementioned three front and that is exactly what he did.
Or did, at least.
A knee injury, picked up in a dead Champions League rubber in Midtjylland, has left him on the sidelines since December 9.
Since then, Liverpool have won just two of their half-dozen matches.
It was that form that saw United climb to the top ahead of Sunday’s table top clash.
Klopp’s latest update last week confirmed that the Portugal international is still on the knee.
“It will still take time,” Klopp said. “And he’s a few weeks away from team training.
“There’s really nothing to say, it takes time. There was no surgery needed, which was good, but it was a real injury.
“It’s not a little bang or something; no, no, and it will take some time yet. There is no real time there.”
A new update is likely to come when the Reds boss hosts the media on Friday afternoon.
Liverpool fans will be hoping this will be positive.
Jota, perhaps surprisingly, has already become an integral part of the operation at Anfield.
And maybe it’s not too dramatic to suggest that title hopes rest on his early comeback.
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