While Liverpool supporters will still quite rightly back their manager Jurgen Klopp to the hilt, the wheels have started to come off a little in recent weeks with two defeats on the road to Newcastle United and Watford, not to mention a draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Having achieved notable victories away at Chelsea and Manchester City so far in the Reds hotseat, it’s been a mixed bag overall for Klopp who lets not forget, hasn’t brought any of his own players to the side he inherited from Brendan Rodgers of course.
While the January transfer window could possibly change that, Reds supporters would expect their side could have scooped all nine points from their last three Premier League fixtures but in an ever competitive top flight, earning every single point is hard work as it is proving.
On the whole however, Klopp has undoubtedly re-energised Liverpool’s fanbase who in Rodgers’ later days as boss were starting to become disillusioned in regards to the direction the club was heading in.
With top four qualification seemingly wide open for Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and who knows, Crystal Palace this season, finishing in that top bracket will be vital for Klopp who knows the Reds will be able to attract a higher calibre player in next summer’s transfer window.
With those kind of things set to sort themselves out over next five months or so, we’re taking this moment to reflect upon the five best Liverpool strikes from the 2015/16 campaign so far.
Do you agree with our selections?
[ffc-gallery]
Click on the image below to reveal the five best Liverpool goals so far this 2015/16 season.
[/ffc-gallery]
Roberto Firmino vs Manchester City (A)
Most definitely the standout Liverpool performance of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds tenure so far, no supporter will be forgetting the club’s 1-4 victory away at Manchester City any time soon.
Heading to an extremely difficult away ground to earn three points from, Liverpool were sumptuous on the day, cutting Manuel Pellegrini’s side apart at will but the best team goal came just after the half-an-hour mark when Roberto Firmino gave the Reds a commanding 0-3 first-half lead.
Combing excellently with Brazilian compatriot Philippe Coutinho down the left channel, Coutinho played the ball in field to Firmino who saw something nobody else did in perfecting a back-heeled pass through to the onrushing Coutinho who had breached the City defence to play the ball back into Firmino to slot home.
It was total football from Liverpool and Reds supporters had finally realised the true worth of big money summer signing from Hoffenheim, Firmino.
Philippe Coutinho vs Stoke City (A)
It seems an awful long time ago now probably because it was – as far back as the opening weekend of the season of course!
But in the Reds’ very first game of the season against Stoke City away, it was three points for Brendan Rodgers at a ground that lets not forget, Liverpool got trounced on in the final game of last season.
And boy, Reds supporters had to wait a long time for the breakthrough as late as in the 86th minute but what a strike it was from Philippe Coutinho.
With Joe Gomez moving forward from left back, he played the ball into Coutinho who had nothing on in the centre of the park but the Brazilian excellently swiveled on the ball, beating Glenn Whelan before sending an absolutely rasping drive beyond Jack Butland who could do nothing about it!
Pick that out!
Christian Benteke vs Manchester United (A)
On a day that was hugely forgettable for Liverpool supporters considering they’d just lost at the home of one of their very fiercest rivals in Manchester United, the one bright spot was an absolutely incredible overhead kick from Christian Benteke.
Doing a pretty decent job in more expectant surroundings so far this term, the Belgian international’s 84th minute consolation to make it 2-1 had given Brendan Rodgers’ side some impetus to snatch a 2-2 draw from the Red Devils’ clutches but debut boy Anthony Martial had the last laugh on that occasion.
Daniel Sturridge (2nd) vs Southampton (A)
While all SIX goals were taken superbly well in Liverpool’s 1-6 demolition of Southampton in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup at the start of the month, we’re picking out Daniel Sturridge’s second strike of the evening in our top five countdown.
His first was good but his second strike totally summed up the new found confidence in the Liverpool dressing room following Jurgen Klopp’s appointment.
An excellent team goal, it was Emre Can who deserved equal plaudits on this occasion with the German excellently trapping the ball in the Saints half before pinging a beauty of a pass to Sturridge with the outside of his boot with the England international taking it first time.
An unstoppable strike!
Martin Skrtel vs Manchester City (A)
Having already included Roberto Firmino’s strike away at Manchester City in this countdown, we couldn’t forget Martin Skrtel’s late pile-driver in the same game that added even more gloss in a near faultless away performance.
Far from being renowned for his goalscoring abilities on the deck with the Slovakian more accustomed to scoring headers, it was a superb swing of Skrtel’s right boot that left Joe Hart with no chance late on in front of the travelling Liverpool supporters late on.
Making it 1-4 in the end, a clearly delighted Skrtel gallivanted in the direction of the Reds fans close by who were sent into raptures.
