The Liverpool of old were back on Monday evening as we got the better of Leeds United in convincing style.
We have seen that level of performance at times this season: beating Rangers 7-1, Bournemouth 9-0 and Manchester United 7-0. Those matches are what we are all about, but we have gone to the likes of Bournemouth and Wolves and been made to look a shadow of ourselves. The inconsistency on show for all to see has been ridiculous.
The first 30 minutes against Leeds, we didn’t really do an awful lot. We kept hold of the ball but barely threatened, and it was looking like it was going to be another one of those nights. Once Liverpool got the first goal, we clicked into gear and the confidence soon began to flow. Mohamed Salah’s second goal was something special, it was a stunning move and a goal only the best teams in the world can score.
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Monday also marked another outstanding performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who followed up his assist in the draw with Arsenal by setting up two goals at Elland Road. We have problems in midfield, and can Trent play there? Absolutely.
We have seen in the last couple of games the damage he can cause in this position. Maybe the manager is looking at what’s happening with Jude Bellingham and thinking of alternative solutions. If Trent loses a tackle in midfield, he is not going to get found out as much compared to if the same thing happens at right-back.
What we have learned is Alexander-Arnold can play the inverted full-back role ridiculously well and has bounced back in style after what has been a challenging few months for him. He has got so much going for him and I'm glad he appears to have rediscovered his best form. Great players can have dips, but they always come back.
Another player who caught my eye against Leeds was Curtis Jones, who was handed a third successive start and let loose by the manager. What Jurgen is doing is having a look at what can work ahead of next season - maybe he and Trent are in his thinking for the midfield. Before we went a goal up, Jones was probably our best player on the pitch at Leeds.
Top four unlikely but not impossible
Monday's win has left us nine points adrift of the Champions League places with eight games to go. It's out of our hands and we'll have to win every match left, but it's not out of the question altogether. If we continue to play like we did at Leeds for our final fixtures, who knows where we will end up. We have to get the three points against Nottingham Forest and then see where we go from there, we could well sneak into the top four.
If you were a betting man, you wouldn’t put money on us being in the Champions League. The pressure is on Newcastle and Tottenham, which could work in our favour.
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