Reds on course to break PL record

When Manchester City clinched the title in 2017-18, it was felt its 100-point total - a new PL record - would become a high-water mark to endure for many years. City’s haul that season was five more than the previous PL record of 95 set by Chelsea under Jose Mourinho in 2014-15.

The PL holder needed almost as many points last season when it topped the table with 98 to the Reds’ 97. The Merseyside-based side’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Thursday means it has 58 points from a possible 60 after 20 games — the tally City achieved at the same stage two years ago.

With 19 wins and a draw, the team is averaging 2.90 points per game, putting it on course for 110 from 38 games, which would also be a record for Europe’s top five leagues. Even with a couple of defeats or a few draws, it would still top City’s 2017-18 total. Since losing to City a year ago, Liverpool is unbeaten in PL, taking 101 points from 37 matches during thatperiod.

Only two other sides have gone a year unbeaten in PL — Arsenal’s invincibles in 2003-04 (a run of 49 games) and Chelsea (40 matches) from October 2004 to November 2005. Since that City loss, Liverpool has won 32 of its 37 league fixtures, averaging 2.7 points per game. It is 13 points clear of second-placed Leicester City having played a game less. Liverpool has scored in 29 successive league matches and has netted 89 goals in its year-long unbeaten run.

It has won its last 11 league games and has even stopped leaking goals. The side has netted 12 goals without reply in its last five league games.