Liverpool Must Learn To Win 'Ugly'

Liverpool turned on the style in their opening-day win over West Ham - but edging the close encounters this season will be key to their title hopes, says Jamie Redknapp...

There's a real optimism at Liverpool right now. You could sense that ahead of the West Ham win on the opening weekend and I don't think I can recall that much of a buzz around Anfield at the start of a season.

Yes, when they were on that run under Brendan Rodgers in 2014, when they really started to believe, it was a special place to be.

But there's a feeling that Jurgen Klopp is putting together a lot of the pieces of the jigsaw now and maybe, just maybe, this could be their season.

Manchester City are the outstanding favourites still, of course. They're a fantastic side and I feel like they will still come out on top. But Liverpool are in contention.

There's a lot of talk about them having to make up a 25-point deficit on Man City from last year but remember Man City had to make up a big deficit on Chelsea from the season before. The challenge for Liverpool will be ensuring they don't throw away points needlessly.

Loris Karius has obviously received a lot of criticism - and Alisson will improve them - but you can't hold the goalkeeper accountable for 0-0 draws at home to the likes of Stoke and West Brom, who both went on to be relegated.

They had seven draws at home last season and they need to find a way to edge those close games if they are really going to push City.

At times Liverpool play such good football and it feels like they're looking for the perfect goal - but often it's the ugly goals that are the crucial ones, earning you those scruffy three points when you haven't been on top form.