adminLONDON. — The focus for Liverpool falls on powers of recovery. Firstly, those belonging to Daniel Sturridge as he highlighted with two excellent goals exactly why there is so much fuss made on the occasions when injury precludes him from putting on his boots.
Then there is the new-found ability under Jurgen Klopp for this Liverpool team to haul itself back into contests when they have been dropped to the canvas.
And finally, in the immediate aftermath of the 6-1 demolition of Southampton in the League Cup on Wednesday night, there was the thought of just what this season, a campaign that appeared to be about steadying the ship two months ago, might now bring for the Anfield club?
“We need a little luck with injuries, but the squad is really strong to be a challenger,” said Klopp, his mask slipping for once as to what the possibilities might be.
Challenging for what? A cup win? The top four? The English Premier League title itself?
Such is the paucity of the top flight this season that the top four is the very least Liverpool, re-energised and reinvigorated by Klopp’s sheer presence and approach, should be aiming for.
A title challenge would be largely dependent on Sturridge putting a run of games together because he boasts the pedigree to score 15 goals plus between now and May. For a side currently just six points off the summit of the table, despite the change of manager back in October and a raft of injuries, that sort of return would be transformational.
There is nothing to fear for Liverpool.
Sturridge’s brace at St Mary’s would be later complimented by Divock Origi’s hat-trick, and a goal from the improving Jordon Ibe, but it was the England striker’s contribution that launched the comeback.
Klopp’s search for perfection means he will rightly frown on Saido Mane’s header after 41 seconds for Southampton, which seemed set to signal the start of a long evening for the visitors until the game was turned on its head.
“In a game you need to concentrate more than we are sometimes,” said Klopp. “It’s no problem if you’re woken up by the opponent, but it happens too often for us.
“Today we struck back and it’s good. There’s more confidence, but we can’t dream.”
Yet the German manager will also recognise that there is something to be said for the manner in which his players respond to adversity now.
Klopp has transformed this club in the space of 47 remarkable days.
They will play Stoke City over two legs in the Capital One Cup semi-final, they have booked their place in the last 32 of the Europa League after beating Bordeaux and they are four points off fourth in the Barclays Premier League. What could possibly go wrong?
The next stop for Klopp on this magical mystery tour is St James’ Park on Sunday and Newcastle manager Steve McClaren must, quite frankly, be terrified.
Southampton were pulverised, put in their place by a team that suddenly has a ruthless streak, an edge about them that suggests they will be hard to beat from here.
In five of Klopp’s 11 games, Liverpool have fallen behind. They have gone on to win three (Chelsea, Bordeaux and Southampton), they have drawn with Rubin Kazan at Anfield and lost once against Crystal Palace when they conceded the lead for a second time at the death. — The Daily Express.
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