Liverpool are a royal ball python playing with their food

Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (R) celebrates with Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold after scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 24, 2020. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (R) celebrates with Liverpool's English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold after scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 24, 2020. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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I once had a royal ball python as a pet, his name was Xanadu. I fed him live mice. And he played with his food, sometimes taking a couple hours to finally kill and eat. This is how I see Liverpool and their Premiere League campaign thus far.

The Reds are capable of striking in any given moment, from any place on the pitch. Yet they toy with their opponents – like my pet snake with his mice. They just wear you down until the inevitable, when the winning strike comes. How many times have we witnessed this with Jurgen Klopp’s team this season?

They have won 26 out 27 fixtures in the Premier League thus far, and 10 of the 26 came late on after the 70th minute mark, and the draw with United in October came in the 85th min.

In December, in the Club World Cup semi-final; the winner came in 90+1 and in the final, in the 99th minute.

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The label of mentality monsters is spot on with Klopp’s squad as they have shown some remarkable resilience in this regard. Leaving it late.

They will next face Watford on the road, and then Bournemouth at home before facing the return tie at Anfield with Atletico on 3rd March. Their next fixture in the queue is Everton away.

This fixture seems to me the most challenging of their Premier League ties in March. For several reasons. It’s a derby and the Toffees are in a spot of decent form at present after the acquisition of Carlo Ancelotti as manager.

And it comes less than a week after the energy draining tie with Atletico. We just witnessed how well the Reds perform after a huge Champions League energy drain with their poor performance against West Ham.

Now Ancelotti has the high honor of being the only manager to beat this Liverpool side twice in the past two CL seasons, both victories coming in away loses in Napoli during the group stage. He will not want to see the Reds win the League cup on Everton’s home-ground, which becomes possible if City were to drop points before then.

The upshot is this: Ancelotti is a master tactician, he knows how to win big matches. And he has proven to know how to stymie and stop Klopp’s heavy metal machine. To be sure, he will not be intimidated by the Reds.

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If they manage to remain unbeaten in the Premiere League come the Derby, this will be a spitfire of a match without doubt. Regardless the next month should prove to be an exciting and enjoyable on for neutrals and Reds fans alike.

So fasten you’re seatbelts, stock up on match day goodies and prepare for that final run to glory. This Reds side deserves all the plaudits coming their way, and our unyielding support.