Jurgen Klopp started Liverpool's season with a full summer behind him to secure new recruits, transmit his ideas and launch his team at the Premier League unencumbered by the added weight of European football. A fast start maintained through autumn, and ahead of a busy period of five league games between here and the New Year, they sit in third place on 30 points -- just four behind leaders Chelsea. The prospect of their best finish since their second place in 2013-14 has become very real, and they have a strong shot of returning to a coveted top four slot, and perhaps even vying for a title.
Where Liverpool have chiefly impressed is in their free-flowing and democratic attack. Klopp's system prioritises overall method over a star focus and this has led to key contributions from players across the midfield and forward line. However, Philippe Coutinho has been the star that has shone brightest and the freak injury he sustained against Sunderland threatens to derail the team's fluency with backup talents understandably lacking the Brazilian's ability. He seems sure to miss all of December and perhaps more, while another key attacker Sadio Mane is to depart for international duty in the African Cup of Nations which starts in mid-January and lasts for three weeks.