Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday was met with an unusual sense of relief around Anfield for a side that had just clinched a 22nd consecutive home league win and moved 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Such has been the Reds’ relentless run towards a first league title in 30 years that three defeats in three different competitions in four games were considered a slump in form. A 0-3 reverse at Watford deprived Juergen Klopp’s men the chance to match Arsenal’s “invincible” unbeaten league season and a FA Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea means they cannot replicate Manchester United’s treble of 1998/99.
However, the most damaging of the trio of defeats could still prove to be the 0-1 deficit they must overturn when Atletico Madrid travel to Anfield for the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday.
“It’s a long season and you see how many games we’ve played. In any sport you play, it’s impossible to be at your highest level all year, year in and year out,” said James Milner, who produced a stunning goal-line clearance to secure victory against Bournemouth. “You try your best and it just doesn’t happen, and that’s when you need to find a way to win.”
After keeping 10 clean sheets in 11 league games between early December and mid-February, Liverpool have conceded in each of their last five games. The loss of goalkeeper Alisson Becker to a hip injury is a massive blow with his erratic understudy Adrian at fault for the opening goal against Chelsea last week.
Jordan Henderson’s presence in midfield has also been badly missed. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane again carried the goalscoring burden to turn the game around against Bournemouth, but the form of Roberto Firmino is also a worry for Klopp.
Pressure on PSG
Nothing ever seems to go to plan in the Champions League for Paris Saint-Germain, whose bid to avoid yet another exit in the first knockout round against Borussia Dortmund will be played out before an empty stadium on Wednesday.
After Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Co. lost 1-2 to an Erling Haaland-inspired Dortmund before a crowd of 80,000 in Germany last month, PSG discovered on Monday the second leg of their last-16 tie must be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.
