Nearly a 1/3 of the way into the season and #Liverpool sit top of the table with 26 points. They certainly deserve to be there, navigating their way against a gruelling start to the season having already played Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea away from home this season. So it's hard to blame Liverpool fans for getting excited about what Klopp's Reds can achieve this season. Having already scored 30 league goals this season through breathtaking attacking Football how does this side differ to the Rodgers side that came the closest to winning Liverpool the league since the birth of the #Premier League in 1992?
Liverpool's time?
The Suarez inspired Rodgers side of 2013, the 3rd in history to score more than 100 goals in a season and the undesirable record of being the first team to score more than 100 goals and not win the league. The SAS partnership evoked fear into the league as the strikers scored a total of 52 league goals between them and led Liverpool's charge towards the title. Carragher and Hyppia who partnered in the back line of the Benitez Liverpool that also nearly won the league back in the 2009/10 season, would have been welcome in this team as Liverpool's defence would become their downfall as they conceded 50 goals throughout the season. It was a case of out scoring teams rather than clean sheets.
But what makes Klopp's side the best in Premier League history, it's too early to be making such statements but there is something on the horizon for this Liverpool side. It seems to be a case of same old with Liverpool so far this season they have blown away sides with wins like 6-1 against Watford and 5-1 against Hull, but they always manage to concede a goal.
However characteristics from both the previous title challenging sides is what makes this Liverpool team special. Issues of squad depth are non-existent as Liverpool have started the last couple of league games with the likes of Sturridge, Origi, and Can on the bench, with the lack of European football allowing them to rotate effectively.
Benitez's side had a host of world class stars and that comparison is what makes Klopp's side more impressive, as Mane and Wijnaldum were being recruited whilst Manchester United recruited Ibrahimovic and Pogba. Liverpool has arguably one world class player in Coutinho, with other very good players around him with Klopp proving again that it is more about the profile of the player rather than the name.
The greatest ever Liverpool side?
The defensive frailties still exist with Lovren's recent Crystal Palace blunder a painfully blunt example, but the summer acquisition of Joel Matip has significantly improved the defence. With the only reason that goals are conceded are individual error rather than defensive frailty.
However it is the front three that has got everyone talking and emphasise the main difference between this side and Rodger's Liverpool. They relied on Suarez and Sturridge for their goals, so far this season, Coutinho has 5 goals & 5 assists, Firmino 5 goals & 3 assists and Mane with 6 goals & 2 assists. The creativity amongst them is making Liverpool such a force to be reckoned with this season. They may be taking the headlines, but every player besides Karuis and Clyne in Liverpool's strongest XI have scored so far in the league. It's not just about the SAS anymore for Liverpool with the gegenpressing style influencing more goals throughout the side. They have 9 goals more than the 2013/14 side had at the same point in the season (21) which shows the quality of Klopp's Liverpool.
It's too early to say whether this side is the greatest that Liverpool had in the Premier League, but in comparison to the other most successful sides; it's difficult to argue that they don't have the potential to be.
