Liverpool are in a difficult position as they try to secure a top four finish in the Premier League, but they showed on Saturday that they can still get the job done. Despite dominating possession, they made heavy weather of getting the three points, but a win is a win. The same could be said for Southampton, who pulled off a remarkable 3-3 draw against Arsenal the night before.
Steve Cooper and his players also gave Liverpool a run for their money, with Brennan Johnson clipping Alisson’s crossbar late in the game.
The task ahead of Liverpool is an extreme one, as they must not only conquer their own inconsistencies and flaws, but also rely on other teams to drop points. They are now up to seventh position and just six points adrift of fourth place, which is a healthier outlook than a week ago.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota were the standout contributors, with Mohamed Salah popping up as the heroic match-winner. Alexander-Arnold is playing with a newfound freedom, thanks to Andy Robertson’s ability to play as a left-sided element of a three-man central defensive unit. This new tweak to the system is as close as Liverpool will get to Jurgen Klopp fielding a genuine 3-5-2 formation.
Jota has found his form at the perfect moment, and he will be crucial to Liverpool’s run-in. They will hope for another win when they travel to East London to face West Ham on Wednesday, and will also hope for favours from other teams. It is the superhuman feats section of the season after all.