Trent’s season lament
How Trent Alexander-Arnold perhaps wishes the season was only just getting started.
The Liverpool defender has long relished the business end of the campaign and, by his own admission, tends to raise his level in line with the stakes.
But that he is now hitting peak form with so few games remaining will surely grate, particularly given the change in position to an inverted right-back that has sparked such a notable revival in recent weeks.
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Alexander-Arnold was once again the Reds’ best player here against West Ham United, effortlessly stepping into midfield and dictating Liverpool’s attacking play while dutifully tracking back when required. If anything, his defensive appetite has increased by being employed further upfield.
Sure, Cody Gakpo did all the hard work by smashing the equaliser in from 20 yards after being found in a pocket of space by Alexander-Arnold’s short, simple pass. But it made the defender the first Liverpool player to assist five Premier League goals in the same month.
And on the other flank, a typically lung-busting display by Andy Robertson was rewarded with a deliciously inviting cross that invited Joel Matip to head the winner.
As against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, Liverpool’s full-backs were once again the main creative force. Just like the good old days.
Klopp call justified
Ibrahima Konate would have been forgiven for waking up in the middle of Saturday night in a cold sweat with visions of Taiwo Awoniyi and Nottingham Forest’s long throws racing through his mind.
While the centre-back has dealt with most that has been hurled at him since arriving at Anfield almost two years ago, the weekend was a struggle with, in a rare public critique of one of his players, Jurgen Klopp suggesting Konate could have done better when in possession.
Injury niggles meant the Frenchman wasn’t risked with Joel Matip preferred to Joe Gomez for only his second Premier League in two months, with a difficult start for the Liverpool defence leading to the overly-easy manner in which Lucas Paqueta was allowed to fire the Hammers in front. Matip was uncertain while Virgil van Dijk’s passing caused alarm.
Slowly but surely, though, the Reds began to win the arm wrestle, Matip coping with the ever-dangerous Michail Antonio while Van Dijk’s vital touch prevented the forward from putting the home side ahead shortly before half-time.
And it was Matip who, seconds after being denied by Lukasz Fabianski, powered in a header for the winner, only his first Premier League goal in more than 11 months. Klopp’s call had paid off.
Reds feel like dancing
Football people can be a right superstitious bunch with portents, omens and signs having long made up the folklore of the game.
So as Liverpool supporters have probed for reasons explaining their team’s underwhelming campaign, some believe a contributory factor has been staring them right in the face.
Ever since it was unveiled, Liverpool’s second strip for this season – officially described as being an iridescent, multi-coloured marbled pattern over a white base colour, supposedly taking inspiration from the 1990s dance scene – has proven somewhat divisive.
But that the Reds had previously failed to win whenever wearing the kit meant nobody was reaching for the glowsticks when Klopp's side stepped out at the London Stadium sporting the monstrosity.
Come full-time, of course, it was a different story, this the 34th time Liverpool have beaten West Ham in the Premier League – against no team have they won more in the competition.
More importantly, though, the unloved change colours will now be consigned to the dustbin, even if the curse of the kit was lifted on its final appearance.
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