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Liverpool are facing an uphill battle to defend their Premier League title and must break a 91-year-old record if they are to do so.
The Reds worked to a 2-1 victory over West Ham on Saturday night, with Mohamed Salah tying and Diogo Jota attacking late after Pablo Fornals opened the scoring for the Irons.
Liverpool’s generally fluid attack struggled to break through a determined West Ham defense and it took the introduction in the second half of Jota’s summer signing to break the deadlock.
But the champions’ problems weren’t just in attack.
Liverpool’s defense, which was the best in the Premier League by some distance last season, has taken off this season.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The Reds have already conceded 15 goals and, as a worrying omen, no team has won the league after conceding so many in their first seven games in more than 90 years.
The previous team to do so was Sheffield Wednesday, which overcame a leaky start to clinch the First Division in the 1928-29 season.
Of course, it is not surprising to see Liverpool struggling in the absence of Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutch colossus is unlikely to make a comeback this season and the Reds’ defensive options have only been further exhausted since his ACL injury.
Fabinho faces several weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury against Midtjylland, while Joel Matip is not fit for the match.
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On the other hand, Liverpool have already seen first-team stars Alisson, Thiago, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson miss matches through injury this season.
There is a feeling that November’s international breakup cannot come fast enough for Jurgen Klopp’s men. It presents the possibility for certain players to recharge their batteries and others to regain the physical form of the match.
But Liverpool cannot afford to think that way ahead of a crisis week for their European and national campaigns.
The Reds travel to Atalanta, who are currently second in Serie A, on Tuesday before a trip to Manchester City at the weekend.
A positive result against the scoring Italians will put the Reds in pole position to qualify for the Champions League group stage.
And the importance of the trip to the Etihad cannot be underestimated. Victory would cement Liverpool’s title claims, while defeat would see City close the gap with the Reds to two points with one game in hand.
The Reds are battered and bruised with injuries to key personnel affecting their start to the season; They must beat the odds and the history books if they want to defend their Premier League crown.
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