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Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool's record-breaking run isn't special - but it is


Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool's record-breaking run from the start of the season does not feel special. But it is.
The German was speaking after seeing his side beat Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday - a game that didn't showcase their most convincing display but did take them to 61 points from 21 games.
This is a tally no side can match in English top-flight history. Not Manchester United in any of their 20 title-winning seasons, not Preston's nor Arsenal's unbeaten 'Invincibles', not even Manchester City in the 2018-19 season that saw them amass 100 points.
Klopp wants people to judge his side at the end of the season, which is understandable. Allow us then to explain just why the Reds' run is such a huge achievement.

Not just an English record

Best totals after 21 games of an English top-flight season
TeamSeasonPoints (*based on 3pts for a win)Record
Liverpool2019-2061W20 D1 L0
Manchester City2017-1859W19 D2 L0
Chelsea2005-0658W19 D1 L1
Tottenham1960-6156*W18 D2 L1
Preston1888-8955*W17 D4 L0
The above table shows the quartet of teams Liverpool have charged in front of to claim the best tally 21 games into a top-flight season in England. As you would expect, all four of these sides won the title that year.
Preston's and Tottenham's points totals have been adjusted to three points for a win, from the two they received at the time.
Klopp's side can amass 112 points - and can afford to lose three matches, draw another and still break Manchester City's record points haul for a Premier League season.
The Reds' achievement stretches further than these shores - it is also the best-ever tally at this stage of the season by a side in any of Europe's 'big five' leagues - England, France, Italy, Germany and Spain.
Below are the best in each of the other four leagues:
Best totals after 21 games in Europe's top leagues
LeagueTeamSeasonPointsRecord
Ligue 1 (France)Paris St-Germain2015-1657W18 D3 L0
Serie A (Italy)Juventus2018-1959W19 D2 L0
Bundesliga (Germany)Bayern Munich2013-1459W19 D2 L0
La Liga (Spain)Barcelona2010-11 & 2012-1358W19 D1 L1
As you can see, Klopp's side are in decent company.

Non-season 'Invincibles'

This is now Liverpool's longest-ever unbeaten run, beating the 37 that concluded in 1894, under the club's very first managers William Barclay and John McKenna and spread across their involvement in the Lancashire League and Football League's second and first division.
Liverpool have accrued a whopping 104 points across these latest 38 matches, which has comprised 33 wins and five draws.
This is a record total by any team across a 38-match spell in the competition's history, overtaking the 102-point runs by Manchester City (ending in 2018) and Chelsea (2005).
So while they are still a long way from joining Preston and Arsenal as 'Invincibles', they can tick this off as a significant milestone on the potential route to this status.
You'll probably recall that Liverpool's last defeat in the league came at Etihad Stadium against Manchester City on 3 January, 2019. They've only dropped 10 points in total since then.

Prolific at both ends of the pitch


This is Liverpool's joint-best scoring run from the start of a season in English top-flight history.
The Reds also scored in their opening 21 games in 1933-34, a campaign in which they somehow finished 18th in the league.
The last time Liverpool failed to score was in the 0-0 draw at Merseyside rivals Everton on 3 March, 2019.
To really demoralise their rivals, the Reds have also kept six consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since December 2006, when they managed seven.

Earliest ever title win?

As already stated, if Liverpool win all their remaining 17 fixtures, they will end the season on 112 points.
With the remaining points left on offer to other sides, Manchester City are the team that can finish closest to them, with them able to amass 95.
The earliest Premier League title win was achieved by Manchester United when they claimed victory in 2000-01 on 14 April.
If the Reds keep winning, the earliest they can win the league is 11 April.
Now that would be special.
Credit: BBC
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