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What's that gurgling sound? Can you hear it? It's the kind of noise your sink makes when it's dealing with the particularly bad liquids you've just poured down it. It's getting louder, actually, turning into more of a whoosing kind of sound, like a gushing of water.Ah wait, I've got it: that's the sound of every single ex-Liverpool pundit – who seem make up about 95% of television jobs these days – unable to contain their excitement that the Reds are finally looking like title contenders again.Can you blame them for being excited? Liverpool have an attack-minded style, a humble and engaging manager, and they're beating top-four teams (and West Brom). They also have dazzlingly skilful players like Coutinho, and don't have the distraction of European football to worry about.If that all sounds familiar, perhaps that's because it is. I mean, except for the fact that they now have a humble and engaging manager instead of Brendan Rodgers, you could forgive yourself for getting this season's Liverpool mixed up with the oh-so-close Liverpool side of 2013/14.
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Sure, Coutinho is no Suarez – at least not yet. And yes, Sturridge, is kind of shit now compared to the lethal force he was that season. But it's true that Liverpool have rival teams worried, with a fluid and fast-paced attacking verve that has already claimed the scalps of Arsenal, Chelsea and now the mighty Baggies, in a 2-1 romp that had critics proclaiming that this is definitely the year Liverpool become relevant once more."LIVERPOOL TITLE CONTENDERS AGAIN!" shouts one wide-eyed pundit. "CAN SEE LIVERPOOL REALLY CHALLENGING FOR HONOURS THIS YEAR!" screams another. "I BASICALLY FANCY JURGEN KLOPP – HE'S SO FUNNY ISN'T HE, SO, SO FUNNY, GOD I JUST LOVE HIM SO MUCH!" shrieks a third.For what it's worth, Liverpool do look pretty good this term. They keep winning, and do so by playing well. But, much like the tragic (read: hilarious) 2013/14 season – when Steven Gerrard gifted the title to Manchester City by falling over in a slapstick manner, thereby crushing a million and one pundits and football journalists hearts into pieces – it all has an air of familiarity about it. Thin squad? Yup. Only one way of playing with no plan B? You betcha. High-intensity pressing that invariably ends up tiring a team out over the course of a season? Hot dang, you'd better believe it!Look, it's too early to say whether they are challengers or not. I mean, we've only played nine games. Maybe they will make a good stab at the title this year, or maybe we should, like, wait before proclaiming Klopp's Liverpool to be the new kings of English football. After all, they may be on a run now, but you can't rule out an unfortunate slip.@williamwasteman