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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Jurgen Klopp now knows the four players who can accelerate Liverpool transformation

In a season of such rollercoaster emotions. there are two standout results that could yet prove pivotal in helping Liverpool achieve their minimum target of Champions League qualification come the end of May.

The most recent - how could it not? - came on Sunday, when the Reds racked up a record-breaking 7-0 victory over bitter North West rivals Manchester United to move within touching distance of the top four.

On the road, meanwhile, was a 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur back in November, ending the long wait for a first away Premier League win of the season just a week after the dismal home reverse to struggling Leeds United.

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With the Londoners emerging as the strongest challengers to the Reds claiming a top-four berth - even if Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford will surely have their say during final third of the campaign - points in the games between the main combatants may be decisive.

And those two significant victories have something remarkable in common. They are the only games this season that Liverpool have started with what would widely be regarded as their first-choice back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Andy Robertson left-back and Ibrahima Konate partnering Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.

It goes some way to explaining the defensive travails that had affected Liverpool until a recent revival of six clean sheets in the last seven Premier League games that has provided the foundation of their recovery following a torrid start to the calendar year.

Of course, the issues in midfield haven't helped. But it's obvious both areas of the team have been affected by the state of flux suffered in the other.

And beyond doubt is the fact Liverpool haven't had a settled back four this season. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp has fielded 16 different back-four combinations in 38 games in all competitions - a remarkable tally.

The most used is the quartet of Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Van Dijk and Robertson, which has won five times and, perhaps just as tellingly, lost four. Next is a back four of Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk and Robertson, which has been unbeaten in five games with three wins and two draws.

A defence comprising Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk and Kostas Tsimikas has been fielded four times with two wins and a loss, while a rearguard of Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk and Tsimikas has seen two wins and a defeat. The remaining 12 backlines - including the one on display against United on Sunday - has been selected at most only twice this campaign.

It demonstrates how the constant changes have been largely prompted by absences, with Konate, Van Dijk and Matip all sidelined at some point with long-term injury problems.

"We always try to improve our defensive play," says Matip. "We know that the base for a good game and a good result is defence and of course we try to focus on it and have this as the base for our offensive gameplay. We are just happy about those clean sheets and hopefully this is just the start.

"Of course, it's important to have Virgil back. Now we've got a proper squad again. Of course, there are still a few players with a lot of quality who are missing but if we can bring all the quality on the pitch together quickly, I think we are a threat for any team."

The back four that started against United has played together only 14 times in total. There have been 12 victories, along with a Premier League draw at home to Tottenham towards the end of last season. The only defeat? The Champions League final to Real Madrid last May.

Rotation means that, even if the quartet avoid injury, there will be some change between now and the end of the season. But Liverpool's top-four challenge will most likely be determined by that celebrated back four.

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