Liverpool 4/1 for Premier League After Deadline Signings

The Reds are on the up again after their 3-1 win against Spurs last Thursday, and an emphatic 3-1 win against West Ham four days later.  Liverpool won the Premier League last year, after a hiatus of thirty years, and manager Jurgen Klopp and his team are hoping to lift the trophy again this season.  Manchester City remain favourites, with odds of 2/7 from bookie Betfred, but there is no doubt that City can still be overtaken as the season progresses.  At the moment, City are leading the League on 44 points, with one game in hand, with Manchester United on 41 points and Liverpool on 40.    

The odds for Liverpool winning the Premier League 2020/21 have been shortening as results have improved and the Reds are now second favourite, with odds cut from 11/2 to 4/1 from a number of bookies including William Hill.  

Liverpool are also chasing Manchester City in the Champions League.  Bayern Munich are favourites to win this season, with odds of 3/1 from Unibet with the two English clubs as second and third favourites.  BetVictor offers odds of 4/1 that Manchester City will win the Champions League title, with Liverpool at 7/1 from rival bookie Betway.  The last 16 features three English clubs – Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea – with the first leg matches kicking off on 16 February when Liverpool plays RB Leipzig.  

The Reds have been beset by injury problems this season with key defenders out of action.  Virgil Van Dijk suffered an anterior cruciate injury after a dangerous challenge from Everton goalie Jordan Pickford in October and a few weeks later centre-back Joe Gomez suffered a knee injury during training.  Joel Matip is now out of action, and for the rest of the season, after sustaining an ankle ligament injury during last week’s match against Spurs.  Fabinho is also resting up but Klopp expects this to be a short term issue, with Fabinho likely to be back in action for the must-see game of the season, against arch rivals Manchester City, on Sunday.  

In light of this maelstrom of injury to Liverpool defenders, Klopp has chosen to bolster his options by bringing in two new players during the transfer window.  Dreams really do come true for 25-year old centre-back Ben Davies, who has arrived at Anfield in a surprise £2 million deal from Championship side Preston.  Ozan Kabak is transferring on a £2.5 million loan to Liverpool from FC Schalke, currently trailing at the bottom in the Bundesliga, with only 8 points.  Klopp describes the 20-year old defender as a “massive talent” and the move to Liverpool is clearly a major step-up for the young Turk.

The transfer deadline has now passed and, with major games ahead in the Premier League and the Champions League, Klopp will be hoping that his two new players fill the vital defensive gaps caused by the litany of injuries.