How the Club World Cup might impact Liverpool’s PL title chase…

Matt Stead

As a consequence of winning the Champions League, Liverpool will head to Qatar in December to try to add the Club World Cup to their honour roll. 

Some concern has already been raised about how the extra commitment might impact upon their Premier League campaign and the defence of their Champions League. But history suggests Liverpool have little to worry about. 

In fact, the four previous English sides to have competed in the Club World Cup have seen an improvement in their Premier League form when they return to domestic duty…

 

Chelsea 2012/13 (Japan)

CWC
Dec 13: Monterrey 1-3 Chelsea
Dec 16: Corinthians 1-0 Chelsea

Five games before CWC
Nov 25: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City
Nov 28: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Dec 1: West Ham 3-1 Chelsea
Dec 5: Chelsea 5-1 Nordsjælland
Dec 8: Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea

PL record before CWC
P16 W8 D5 L3 F28 A17 (Average PPG 1.81)

Five games after CWC
Dec 19: Leeds 1-5 Chelsea
Dec 23: Chelsea 8-0 Aston Villa
Dec 26: Norwich 0-1 Chelsea
Dec 30: Everton 1-2 Chelsea
Jan 2: Chelsea 0-1 QPR

PL record after CWC
P22 W14 D4 L4 F47 A22 (Average PPG 2.09)

Chelsea were sat in third place when they travelled to Japan and they finished in third behind champions Man Utd and Man City after a PPG improvement of 0.28 upon returning as Club World Cup runners-up.

 

Manchester United 2008/09 (Japan)

CWC
Dec 18: Gamba Osaka 3-5 Man Utd
Dec 21: Man Utd 1-0 LDU Quito

Five games before CWC
Nov 30: Man City 0-1 Man Utd
Dec 3: Man Utd 5-3 Blackburn
Dec 6: Man Utd 1-0 Sunderland
Dec 10: Man Utd 2-2 Aalborg
Dec 13: Spurs 0-0 Man Utd

PL record before CWC
P16 W9 D5 L2 F27 A10 (Average PPG 2.0)

Five games after CWC
Dec 26: Stoke 0-1 Man Utd
Dec 29: Man Utd 1-0 Middlesbro
Jan 4: Southampton 0-3 Man Utd
Jan 7: Derby 1-0 Man Utd
Jan 11: Man Utd 3-0 Chelsea

PL record after CWC
P22 W19 D1 L2 F41 A27 (Average PPG 2.63)

United retained the Premier League title after finishing four points clear of Liverpool following a PPG improvement of 0.63 upon returning from Japan as Club World Cup champions.

 

Liverpool 2005/06 (Japan)

CWC
Dec 15: Saprissa 0-3 Liverpool
Dec 18: Liverpool 0-1 Sao Paulo

Five games before CWC
Nov 26: Man City 0-1 Liverpool
Nov 30: Sunderland 0-2 Liverpool
Dec 3: Liverpool 3-0 Wigan
Dec 6: Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Dec 10: Liverpool 2-0 Middlesbro

PL record before CWC
P15 W9 D4 L2 F20 A8 (Average PPG 2.06)

Five games after CWC
Dec 26: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle
Dec 28: Everton 1-3 Liverpool
Dec 31: Liverpool 1-0 West Brom
Jan 2: Bolton 2-2 Liverpool
Jan 7: Luton 3-5 Liverpool

PL record after CWC
P23 W16 D3 L4 F37 A13 (Average PPG 2.21)

Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool went to Japan in third place in the Premier League, where they ended the season following a slight PPG increase of 0.15 after finishing as Club World Cup runners-up.

 

Manchester United 1999/2000 (Brazil)

CWC
Jan 6: Necaxa 1-1 Man Utd
Jan 8: Man Utd 1-3 Vasco da Gama
Jan 11: Man Utd 2-0 South Melbourne

Five games before CWC
Dec 4: Man Utd 5-1 Everton
Dec 8: Man Utd 3-0 Valencia
Dec 18: West Ham 2-4 Man Utd
Dec 26: Man Utd 4-0 Bradford
Dec 28: Sunderland 2-2 Man Utd

PL record before CWC
P19 W13 D4 L2 F50 A25 (Average PPG 2.26)

Five games after CWC
Jan 24: Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal
Jan 29: Man Utd 1-0 Middlesbrough
Feb 2: Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Man Utd
Feb 5: Man Utd 3-2 Coventry
Feb 12: Newcastle 3-0 Man Utd

PL record after CWC
P19 W15 D3 L1 F47 A20 (Average PPG 2.52)

United’s PPG increased by 0.26 after returning from a disappointing Club World Cup campaign where they failed to get out of the group. The reigning Premier League champions retained their title with an 18-point margin.

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