IT could be argued that since going down in the second half at St Mary’s two weeks ago our league season has effectively ended, writes CHARLIE CHRISTIAN.
It’s true that our chances of finishing in the top four have greatly diminished as a result of those shambolic 45 minutes but there’s still every reason to believe a win tomorrow could be big for the Reds.
If it wasn’t for the fairytale of Leicester City’s likely title win capturing the imagination of so many, it’s fair to imagine that much more attention would have been paid to Mauricio Pochettino’s side by fans and journalists alike this year.
Spurs have been remarkably impressive all season, quietly performing with the sort of steely consistency that has eluded our own team for so much of this campaign.
Beating Tottenham tomorrow evening would lay down a marker as we head into the final stretch of games for this season.
We’ve proved ourselves capable of some incredible attacking play since Jürgen Klopp took over and, as Emre Can rightly pointed out this week, our progress as a side hasn’t been reflected by our current league position.
This match provides an ideal opportunity to prove to the rest of the division just how much we’ve improved in the six months since Jürgen’s appointment as well as kickstart a much-needed bit of momentum heading into our crucial Europa League tie against Borussia Dortmund.
It’s easy to feel frustration at the way ourselves and Tottenham have effectively switched positions in the space of just two years.
It’s them rather than us pushing for the title, with our own side hovering in and around the Europa League places. This may be dismissed as tribal entitlement but seeing a club like Spurs who have no real record of title pushes challenging at the top level while we flounder in mid-table sticks in the craw.
However, there are lessons for us in the way Spurs have pushed on under Pochettino. Their improvement has come from a relatively simple process — appointing a proven manager, giving him time to implement his own philosophy and backing him in the transfer market.
The returns so far have been spectacular and could get even better, with Tottenham going from the unorganised mess we all ridiculed under Tim Sherwood to the solid, expertly drilled outfit we’ll face tomorrow.
In Pochettino and Klopp we see a pair of relatively young, progressive managers and there’s reason to believe we’re going in the same direction of travel we’ve seen from Tottenham in the last two seasons.
Through first 21 games:
Klopp #LFC: 32 points (9th place) GF 37 GA 30
Poch #COYS: 34 points (5th place) GF 30 GA 29 https://t.co/BfaTIuknlx— Tottenham Hotspur-US (@Spurs_US) March 30, 2016
Our improvement at the back has been evident in the six months Klopp has been in charge, with players many wrote off as deadweights such as Dejan Lovren looking remarkably accomplished.
The process is still a long way from being complete as the horror show at St Mary’s served to remind us, but already we can see what a manager with real footballing pedigree can do to turn a side that so often resembled 11 individuals under Brendan Rodgers into a cohesive, well-organised unit.
On top of that, Jürgen’s much talked about emphasis on high pressing has paid dividends in attack.
Roberto Firmino has been one of the league’s best performing players since the turn of the year and there are signs that Philippe Coutinho might be regaining the consistency we’ve missed from him at times this year.
READ: He plays on the left, he plays on the right, Adam Lallana, could be alright
We’re a long way from seeing the scintillating football we were treated to on a weekly basis back in 2013-14 but the groundwork for a side just as devastating and — crucially — more balanced, is there.
Late kick-offs at Anfield always have a bit more about them and tomorrow will be no exception.
Our chances of grabbing a top-four spot may be slim now but what better way to state our intent of getting back to the top level than roaring the team on to a victory over one of this season’s most impressive sides?
As good as Spurs are, the last five meetings between the sides make for good reading for Reds. Before October’s 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane, Liverpool won 3-2 at Anfield in February 2015, 3-0 at White Hart Lane in August 2014, 4-0 at Anfield in March 2014 and 5-0 at White Hart Lane in December 2013.
Tottenham tend to be a side Liverpool find an extra gear for.
Let’s have these…
Let’s have these.
Forget they’re going for the title, forget Leicester, forget our position, forget that Southampton debacle.
Let’s have these.
Sorcery and the art of conjuring something from the scraps of all those wretched Thursday nights. I’ve got a good feeling about this. It comes from knowing that we have big game players – Coutinho call him Goliath writ large and growing in stature every game. There’s a majestic air about his impudence. Coutinho has no right to be this good. He’s tiny in a league that eats tiny for pies. Magic or thunder something is in him. But he’s just got his ticket same as the rest of us and I hope the players are seeing the real prize here.
We Win.
We Win playing like a Klopp team
Play in His image I say and then we just conjured something special.
Liverpool FC, far too long been denied the type of theatre about which we dream we have. The one lit up in lights that makes us all a bit silly and slap happy.
We win it tomorrow.
We win a date with Dortmund that’s really a treat. A 180 minute blind date with every player ready to push trains and value the ball above all (Looking at you Bobby Firmino) looking for a little bit of the Liverpool Myth to call their own
I want players who don’t want to be forgotten. A chance to show the world is what awaits, we know our lads relish that sort of challenges.
Let’s win this one for the next one knowing our performance over the next few weeks can smash the stifling grip fear and distrust thick as thieves and all the other unwanted baggage clinging to our club.
We win, make the morning headlines belt it out.
We win tomorrow and the first spell is cast. We win tomorrow and watch how we can go.
Survival is a word one should not accept in association with Liverpool. Let’s thrive boys, we win tomorrow and then we go again.
Totenham hotpubes aint nuttin….Liddypool 3-0 Totenbacon
Think you’d be better-off on the Echo forum, the standard of comment there will be more your ‘ting’.
Lol good one man8