Liverpool losing ground in the title race after more dropped points

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp still has a lot of work to do.

Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw against West Ham United in Sunday afternoon’s Premier League clash at Anfield, leaving the Merseysiders third in the table and now six points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Jurgen Klopp’s men relinquished a lead to drop points for a second week running against a bottom-half side, and risk losing important ground in the title race if they can’t quickly arrest the slide.

Defensive problems costing Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has played down criticism of his side’s defence this season, but he will be left frustrated for the individual errors that have costed his side dearly in recent weeks. The Merseysiders have conceded seven goals in their last two games, and the two performances have been littered with avoidable individual errors.

Goalkeeper Loris Karius has been under the spotlight in recent weeks for the part he’s played in the two games. The German shot-stopper spilled an effort late on against Bournemouth for Nathan Ake to score the rebound and win it for the Cherries on Sunday, December 4. He then let in a soft free-kick for West Ham’s equaliser and was statuesque for United’s second goal, and drew the ire of the football pundits after the game.

Liverpool defender Joel Matip also made a costly error in the West Ham draw for the visitors to take the lead, while Dejan Lovren’s performance against Bournemouth was widely criticised, and it’s clear Klopp still has some work to do to make the Reds assured at the back.

Winter form sees them playing catch-up in the title race

After Liverpool’s 6-1 win against Watford in early November, the Merseysiders were top of the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s men were one point better off than second-placed Chelsea and two points clear of Manchester City/Arsenal ahead of a four-game run against sides 10th and below in the table. However, just one win in the last five weeks now sees Liverpool third in the Premier League and six points behind leaders Chelsea and three points adrift of runners-up Arsenal.

There’s still plenty of the season to go, but such a crumble in a matter of weeks now sees Liverpool playing catch-up and in danger of having an unassailable deficit to make up in the second-half of the campaign. Liverpool are 13/2 to win the Premier League title this season, but if they can’t stop giving up points so cheaply they will end 2016/17 empty-handed.