Liverpool needed this loss to reset their winning mentality

How will Liverpool respond to being beaten 7-2 by Aston Villa?

While this is a loss that will surely sting; I feel it might be just the thing to get this team focused on the difficulties that lie ahead. The loss of Allison to a reported shoulder injury for 4-6 weeks not the least of these.

Jordan Henderson, Thiago and Sadio Mane all missed the game but that can’t be used as an excuse. Wins against Chelsea and Arsenal were gained (largely) without the pair, while the squad is deep enough to absorb Mane’s absence against a side who barely escaped relegation last season.

After the upcoming international break the Reds will again go on the road to cross town rivals Everton in the derby. They have the best start to their season in 50 yrs or more and Carlo Ancelotti has his Toffee’s in fine form, sitting second in the league without a loss.

In the turn around from there Liverpool will again play away to Ajax in Holland before returning to Anfield to face a tough Sheffield United side. The following week will see them host Midtjylland in Champions League midweek, before facing a West Ham side that just put three past Leicester at King Power.

So the fixtures are coming fast and furious and the Reds will have this international break to get their heads, their confidence, their defensive form and their mental fortitude together. It could be a long autumn season for Liverpool as every match scheduled will become tough slog for Klopp’s lads.

Sometimes a good sound thrashing such as this is just the thing a team like this needs to get them refocused and concentrating on good solid football. Just their fourth loss in some 80 plus matches; they can forget about pie-in-the-sky records and going undefeated;and concentrate on each and every match every opponent and bring their best game to each.

You can rest assured their opponents will.

There will be no easy matches for Liverpool and as champions there shouldn’t be.

Words by Paul Landwehr.