Liverpool have – at least temporarily – moved to the top of the Premier League table after coming from behind to beat Wolves 3-1 at Molineux. 

Last season was the first time that Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League during which Jurgen Klopp has been at the helm for an entire season. But the club have responded by making big chances to the squad, particularly in the midfield department.

The Reds finished last season in strong form and picked up where they left off after bringing in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch for Klopp’s new-look midfield.

“We have to grow into [the changes], it didn’t happen seven or eight years ago with Hendo or whenever it was and it will not happen now,” the manager told reporters ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

“We don’t always have to say ‘but Millie would have said that, Hendo would have said that and Hendo would have shouted here.’

“We have this kind of new start with this ‘Liverpool FC reloaded’ if you want, and it’s an exciting thing.”

Here are 10 stats that illustrate how Liverpool are on the right track to being back to their best:

– Only Manchester City and Arsenal have taken more points than Liverpool over the course of the calendar year. Liverpool have taken 52 points from 27 games in 2023. Extrapolated over the course of a full 38-game season, that averages out at approximately 73 points – which is almost a guarantee of a top-four finish.

– Liverpool still struggled with inconsistency with in the opening months of 2023, but the real turning point can be pinpointed back to when Klopp moved Trent Alexander-Arnold into a hybrid midfield role back in April, beginning with a 2-2 draw against Arsenal. In that time, they’ve taken 37 points from 15 Premier League games. Only Man City (40 points) have a better record over the corresponding period.

– Klopp’s men are unbeaten in their last 16 league outings (11 wins, five draws). That’s the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League.

– Liverpool lost 3-0 when they went away to Wolves last season. Klopp’s side have already picked up five extra points compared to the corresponding fixtures last season, having beaten Aston Villa 3-0 at Anfield before the international break (they drew 1-1 at home to Villa last term).

– From just one outing in the dreaded early Saturday kick-off slot this season, Liverpool have already picked up as many points and more wins than they did from six outings in the televised BT/TNT Sports 12:30 Saturday kick-off. Last term they drew three and lost three of their six early Saturday kick-off matches.

– Salah is averaging a goal or an assist every 72 minutes this season. The Egyptian attacker has four goals and two assists in five appearances, notching a direct contribution to goal in each and every one of Liverpool’s outings in 2023-24 so far. Only Pedro Neto has as many assists (four) and only Erling Haaland has more combined goal contributions (six goals, one assist).

– Salah’s form stretches back much further. Going back to last season, he’s either scored or assisted in his last 11 Premier League appearances. The 31-year-old has notched 16 goals and 14 assists in 32 appearances for Liverpool in 2023.

– Only Manchester City have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League in 2023-24 so far. Liverpool have only kept one clean sheet, but they’re yet to concede more than one goal in any game so far this season.

– Liverpool have come from behind to win in three of their five outings so far this season.

READ NEXT: Where are they now? Liverpool’s 16 wonderkids from Football Manager 2014

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name Liverpool’s 30 most expensive transfers of all time?

The article Liverpool reloaded: 10 stats that show Klopp’s Reds are a force to be reckoned with again appeared first on Planetfootball.com.