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How Liverpool would have fared if every Premier League season ended after 29 games

Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool would have fared if every Premier League season ended after 29 matches.

The coronavirus outbreak has seen the majority of football across the globe postponed, meaning that a large number of clubs are currently unsure whether their respective seasons will continue.

A final decision will be made in the coming weeks, and Liverpool are certainly one of those in the Premier League hoping that the 2019-20 campaign will be allowed to resume.

Indeed, Jurgen Klopp's side are currently 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, having enjoyed an incredible season, suffering just one defeat.

There is certainly a chance that the current campaign will not continue, effectively making it a 29-game season for the majority of clubs.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a look at how Liverpool would have fared down the years if every Premier League season had ended after 29 matches.


Roy Evans pictured in 2012© Reuters

Incredibly, Liverpool were actually 15th after 29 matches of the inaugural Premier League campaign, having lost 11 of their opening 29 games, recording just nine wins in the process. Graeme Souness's side did recover to finish sixth, but it is in some contrast to their form in the opening 29 fixtures of the 2019-20 campaign.

In truth, there was not too much of a swing in the next few seasons, with their position after 29 games almost identical to where they actually ended up. It was exactly the same in the 1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98 seasons and only slightly different in 1996-97 and 1998-99. The Reds were eighth at this stage of Manchester United's treble-winning campaign, some 22 points off Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Gerard Houllier led the Reds to second in 2001-02, but they were third after 29 games, two points off leaders Manchester United. The Merseyside giants fell away in the latter stages of the campaign, though, ultimately finishing seven points behind Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side.

Gerard Houllier pictured in April 2019© Reuters

The Reds were sixth after 29 games of the 2002-03 campaign but finished fifth, but their position did not change from fourth, fifth or third in the next three seasons. They did improve in both 2006-07 and 2008-09 to finish third and second from fourth and third, though, before a disappointing 2009-10 campaign saw them end up in seventh, dropping one spot from this stage.

The 2013-14 campaign under the leadership of Brendan Rodgers saw the Merseyside giants finish second, which was also their position after 29 matches, four points off Chelsea with a game in hand. Liverpool scored 101 goals over the course of the 38-game season but finished two points behind Manchester City.

Klopp's first season in charge actually saw the Reds finish in eighth spot, but they were ninth after 29 games. The Reds improved from sixth after 29 matches of the 2016-17 campaign to finish fourth, though, and securing a Champions League spot was an important step for Klopp following his arrival from German football.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp growls with excitement on March 7, 2020© Reuters

The Reds were third at this stage of the 2017-18 campaign but ended up in fourth. They were second, though, just a point behind Manchester City, after 29 matches of the 2018-19 season. Klopp's side ultimately fell just short of the Citizens, however, following an incredible race for the title.

Down the years, Liverpool's spot after 29 games and their final position has not changed too much and only a miracle would prevent them from winning this season's title should play be allowed to resume.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates after the match on January 29, 2020© Reuters

Full list:

1992-93 season
Position after 29 games: 15th
Final position: 6th

1993-94 season
Position after 29 games: 7th
Final position: 8th

1994-95 season
Position after 29 games: 4th
Final position: 4th

1995-96 season
Position after 29 games: 3rd
Final position: 3rd

1996-97 season
Position after 29 games: 2nd
Final position: 4th

1997-98 season
Position after 29 games: 3rd
Final position: 3rd

1998-99 season
Position after 29 games: 8th
Final position: 7th

1999-2000 season
Position after 29 games: 3rd
Final position: 4th

2000-01 season
Position after 29 games: 5th
Final position: 3rd

2001-02 season
Position after 29 games: 3rd
Final position: 2nd

2002-03 season
Position after 29 games: 6th
Final position: 5th

2003-04 season
Position after 29 games: 4th
Final position: 4th

2004-05 season
Position after 29 games: 5th
Final position: 5th

2005-06 season
Position after 29 games: 3rd
Final position: 3rd

2006-07 season
Position after 29 games: 4th
Final position: 3rd

2007-08 season
Position after 29 games: 4th
Final position: 4th

2008-09 season
Position after 29 games: 3rd
Final position: 2nd

2009-10 season
Position after 29 games: 6th
Final position: 7th

2010-11 season
Position after 29 games: 6th
Final position: 6th

2011-12 season
Position after 29 games: 7th
Final position: 8th

2012-13 season
Position after 29 games: 6th
Final position: 7th

2013-14 season
Position after 29 games: 2nd
Final position: 2nd

2014-15 season
Position after 29 games: 5th
Final position: 6th

2015-16 season
Position after 29 games: 9th
Final position: 8th

2016-17 season
Position after 29 games: 6th
Final position: 4th

2017-18 season
Position after 29 games: 3rd
Final position: 4th

2018-19 season
Position after 29 games: 2nd
Final position: 2nd

2019-20 season
Position after 29 games: 1st
Final position: N/A

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