September Review: Liverpool Deftly Navigate a Difficult Start to the Season

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

A look back at Liverpool’s perfect September and a preview of the games to come in October

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Looking Back - September

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On paper, Liverpool had a tough start to the new season as they attempt to defend their title. Their opening match was against the newly promoted Leeds United, who gave the Reds a real fight. However, thanks to a hat trick by Mohamed Salah, Liverpool managed to inch past Leeds United by a score of 4-3.

Next, the Reds faced Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, always a tricky fixture to navigate. This game ended up being Liverpool’s only clean sheet in the four competitive games they played this month.

This game also saw the entertaining and exciting debut of new player Thiago Alcantara, who got tongues wagging with an impressive performance when he came on for the skipper Jordan Henderson at halftime.

Sadio Mané began to give teammate Salah a run for his money by scoring both of the Reds’ goals in the span of five minutes in the second half.

The Carabao Cup kicked off against Lincoln City with a bang. Five Liverpool players scored seven goals and easily knocked out the League One side.

In the last game of the month, Liverpool took on Arsenal at Anfield, a match which saw the debut of another Liverpool signing, Diogo Jota. Jota came into the game as a substitute in the 80th minute and proceeded to immediately make his mark on the team. He clinched the ridiculous performance with Liverpool’s third goal of the game less than 10 minutes after he stepped onto the pitch.

The table means nothing right now, but Liverpool currently sit in second place behind Leicester City. Aside from those two teams, the only other club that has managed a perfect nine points are Liverpool’s hometown rivals, Everton.

In some troubling news for club, it has been confirmed that Thiago has contracted COVID-19 and will spend the next two weeks self-quarantining. We hope for the best for him and his family, as well as they other Liverpool players and staff.

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Looking Forward - October

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In case you haven’t gotten enough Arsenal, Liverpool start off October playing them in the Carabao Cup. The match is likely to be quite different, with a whole new set of players on the pitch for both teams.

Their last game before the October international break will be away to Aston Villa. When league play resumes, we’ll get the first Merseyside derby of the season at Goodison Park. Two home games against Sheffield United and West Ham United round off the month of October.

Here’s what Liverpool’s full October schedule looks like:

Thurs. Oct 1 - Arsenal (h) (Carabao Cup)
Sun. Oct 4 - Aston Villa (a)
Sat. Oct 17 - Everton (a)
Sat. Oct 24 - Sheffield United (h)
Sat. Oct 31 - West Ham United (h)

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com