Liverpool haven't exactly timed it to perfection, but there could yet be something waiting for them at the end of their late-season surge.
This slender 2-1 win here against West Ham makes it three successive victories for Jurgen Klopp in a five-game unbeaten stretch that represents his team's second best sequence of the campaign, behind the four wins in five across mid-February and early March. It's starting to vaguely resemble consistency, which could yet land them something few had thought possible just a handful of weeks ago.
Now up to sixth and a half-dozen points off the top four, the Reds will still be keeping a keen eye on developments there, most notably when fourth-place Manchester United visit Tottenham on Thursday evening. Everton's welcoming of Newcastle - who are also six ahead - that same night will be one to place tabs on too.
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It might be too little, too late for Klopp and his players but they seem hell-bent on at least testing the resolve of those above them. Now up to sixth, the Europa League is the minimum target from here on in. European football, however it comes.
Ibrahima Konate wasn't risked ahead of Tottenham on Sunday after picking up a knock, but other than match-winner Joel Matip's return to the side, Klopp kept faith with the same XI who had started the previous three games together.
Lucas Paqueta gave the hosts the lead when he fired past Alisson Becker from about 20 yards out after a smart give-and-go with Michail Antonio but to Liverpool's credit they didn't crumble like they have at other venues when they have gone behind.
Cody Gakpo, who enjoyed an impressive game, fired the Reds level with a low strike off the post on 18 minutes. It's been a strange few months for the Dutchman since his £37m move from PSV Eindhoven. His January arrival coincided with the worst period of the Reds' season as they lurched their way through a dismal month and he looked lost at times in the early weeks, but his close control, pace and power have become more and more evident as the weeks have gone on and Liverpool's general performances have steadily improved.
Now up to a half-dozen goals for his new club, Gakpo has shown that there is plenty to come from him as he becomes the heir apparent to the 'false 9' throne that will be vacated by Roberto Firmino in just a few weeks.
Diogo Jota could have scored his fifth goal in three games towards the end of the half but couldn't quite rise high enough to nod home from close range after Jordan Henderson had flicked on Mohamed Salah's cross. That came after he had sliced a presentable chance over the bar after some penalty-area pinball saw the ball bounce invitingly for the Portugal international.
Jarrod Bowen then thought he had struck his side into the lead around 10 minutes after the restart after cutting inside Virgil van Dijk but the Irons' winger had drifted just offside before the chance developed. That was the moment for Klopp to puff out his cheeks and send for the cavalry.
On came Luis Diaz and Thiago Alcantara moments later in an effort to inject some impetus into his side's play in the final third and it was one that worked in fairness to the manager, whose substitutions have been called into question at times this term.
Matip was denied from close range by Fabianski on 66 minutes but the centre-back made sure he was not thwarted a second time from the resulting corner when he thundered a header home from Andy Robertson's delivery.
It was far from fluent in the final exchanges as Liverpool were made to dig deep but their show of spirit was heartening given it has been absent on far too many occasions on the road this campaign. Consistency and character - the two traits upon which so much was built under Klopp - are slowly returning. Everything else that we have to come to associate this Reds team with will do so in time if those two pillars remain steady.
The watching John W Henry would have been suitably impressed with the efforts of the players at full time as the Reds' principal owner sat in the crowd alongside CEO Billy Hogan.
Quite why the Boston-based owner was in the capital is another topic entirely amid ongoing speculation of external investment but his presence did not go unnoticed by supporters who are demanding a big-spending summer to rebuild a squad that has slipped considerably down the Premier League's pecking order.
That Arsenal and Manchester City were embroiled in a major title showdown at the Etihad on the same night the Reds were battling to close the gap on the Europa League places should not have been lost on Henry. He, after all, is the man with the biggest say for what happens next at Anfield.
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