1. I was very critical of our business in the summer and thought that our squad was too weak to mount any sort of challenge. In particular, I thought we wasted millions (as usual) on Wijnaldum and Mane.
So far this season, I've been very impressed with both of them. They work extremely hard and offer us a lot of pace and energy - they fit into Jurgens team well. They have definitely improved us as a team.
2. Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana. Up until this season I was probably their biggest critics and I wanted both of them sold.
Jordan has taken more responsibility this season though. He is playing in a deeper role, which I think suits his game better. He hasn't got the quality to play further up the pitch. I said it in the Palace thread but he will never be a young Steven Gerrard or a Coutinho type of player. What he is good at doing though is covering ground, letting the better players play the football and doing the dirty/donkey work for them. We're seeing this and its bringing the best out of our other players LIKE coutinho but more importantly, bringing the best out of Jordan.
Lallana is also playing in a deeper role which also suits his game better. Jordan doesn't have the quality to place further up the pitch and I think Adam lacks the pace to play further up the pitch. He is getting on the ball a lot more now and his work rate and stamina fits in well alongside Jordan and Wijnaldum meaning the opposition midfield don't get any time on the ball.
3. Karius. I read great things about him and couldn't wait to have a decent goalie at Liverpool.
Although it's VERY early days, he has looked like a little boy in between the sticks. I think it says a lot when the majority of us it seems would prefer Mignolet in goal at the moment. By no means am I writing him off, but he has been a little bit disappointing which I think is a fair comment. Lets take Karius out, get him in the gym and beef him up and then put him back in next season.
4. Sturridge. I thought he would start every week for us, score every week for us and I even put a bet on at the start of the season that he would get the golden boot. Although Klopp made many hints last season by choosing Origi over him for example, it really does seem that he doesn't Sturridge and he has no future here. It saddens me a bit, because I really like Danny and think that on his day, you're going to struggle to find a better striker.
4. Like the OP states I thought Utd would be contenders this season. At the moment, it looks like they won't finish top 4. A lot can happen in a season and its early days yet but I'm very surprised at their poor start.
I'm also surprised by Arsenal too. They always start strongly and then fade as the season comes to an end but there is something different about them this season, they look a lot stronger with the addition of mustafi. I think they are serious contenders this season.
5. Our results/performances. I thought it would be a battle for top four this season (it still might be) and didn't expect us to be sitting joint top after 10 games.
We've gotten some very difficult games out of the way now and our next half a dozen or so games SHOULD be wins while we watch he other big boys play each other. By Christmas, we could easily be sitting top of the league and then we have most of our rivals to come to Anfield in the new year. I don't want to get carried away, but its very difficult not to, Jürgen and the lads have put themselves in a very strong position and I didn't see it coming if im honest.
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