Liverpool received a much-needed boost after beating Everton during Monday's Merseyside derby.
Jurgen Klopp's side were good value for the three points they claimed at Anfield, which brought to an end the club's dismal run of form since top-flight football since the turn of the year.
A testing trip to Newcastle is next on the agenda, though the Reds would do well to remember they remain the only side to get the better of the Toon Army in the Premier League this season.
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Reflecting on the impact Monday's triumph could have as we approach Saturday's showdown, four supporters have shared their views as part of a weekly ECHO fan column.
Rhys Buchanan (city centre, @Rhys_Buchanan) - Spirits lifted ahead of Saturday
Monday night’s result against Everton was the perfect tonic to lift us from the recent gloom and I believe that, with the cavalry coming back, it can be the turning point we’ve needed. I mean, it gladdened the soul to see Diogo Jota off the bench, right?
Ultimately, though, the Blues are struggling and we should be comfortably beating teams at home that are deep into the relegation scrap. On top of this, Liverpool fans and players alike will be all too aware of our false dawns so far this season, and there’s no scope for complacency as we head into another season-defining clash this weekend.
It will be a tough evening away in Newcastle, but if we can look like the old Liverpool again come Saturday, with Salah firing and new arrivals like Gakpo underway, then we've got a great chance of making up further ground on the top four.
Andrew Cullen (Widnes, @brothersred5) - Liverpool of old resurface during derby win
I performed a Robbo laugh on Tuesday morning when reflecting on Monday’s Merseyside derby triumph.
We saw, even if momentarily, a return to our former heights. The ball was magnetised to Salah’s feet, Bajcetic was nipping at Everton heels (ranked first for attempted tackles) and Nunez was a powerhouse leading the line.
The first goal transported me back to the not so old, devastating, aggressive Liverpool, who fed on opportune moments to unleash hell. As the ball crashed against the frame of the goal, Nunez was standing like a greyhound in the slips. He moved across the pitch like a freight train and then delicately placed the ball before Salah, who couldn’t miss after seeing Pickford perform a Cha-Cha slide.
Liverpool’s performance was measured and controlled, but they were immeasurably assisted by a feeble Everton outfit. Ellis Simms was cut adrift up front and was not waving for the ball, but waving because he was drowning from the lack of service.
A sterner test presents itself with Newcastle away, a team in fine form. This game will be a useful metric to assess whether Liverpool really have turned a corner.
David Shams (Washington D.C., @ShamsWriter) - Robertson moment summed up Reds' resurgent display
Energy and vigour were the main ingredients of Monday’s vintage performance, produced by a Liverpool team hopelessly failing to discover the form that made them one of the most feared sides in Europe. Restoration may yet be completed, though, as a trip to St James' Park awaits at the weekend - a big test to see if the proverbial leaf has indeed been turned over.
The Merseyside derby display harked back to some of the finest games by the Reds during the Klopp era: tails up, confident, imperious. Salah scored and helped progress the ball for the second; Trent grabbed an assist and looked solid at the back and even Gomez and Matip stood tall along the backline.
But the most indelible image of the night, one that signalled Klopp’s Liverpool side might indeed have their swagger back, was of Robbo laughing in the face of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Both sets of fans likely viewed the situation facing both clubs as dire before kick-off but by the time Robbo's laugh was heard around Merseyside, the difference in sentiments couldn’t have been starker. Everton still facing relegation, Liverpool feeling restored. Only one question remains: is this another false dawn or have Liverpool indeed found a rich vein of form?
James Noble (Worcestershire, @james_noble98) - Lessons must be learned following Champions League final findings
Recent days have felt significant. Monday’s win over Everton was so welcome, enjoyable and encouraging.
It offered tenacity, tempo, control and creativity. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo’s goals oozed incision and excitement. Stefan Bajčetić excelled again, within an improved midfield. Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk’s returns offered further cheer, meanwhile. It’s one match – one against an admittedly blunt version of the Blues – but it’s another step.
Saturday’s trip to fourth-placed Newcastle looks big. We’re the only side to beat the impressive Magpies in the league so far this season, and it feels like there’s momentum to fight for. Indeed, momentum would be welcome ahead of another potentially electric Anfield night, against Real Madrid, in the Champions League on Tuesday.
This week also, of course, brought the publication of the UEFA independent report into the events surrounding last May’s final in Paris. Alongside the organisers’ failures, it highlighted Liverpool supporters’ admirable conduct that night. It remains an evening that must be learned from, and the report’s 21 recommendations will hopefully contribute to a safer future.
From a Liverpool perspective – and a wider footballing one – let’s hope the events of recent days look increasingly significant over the coming months.
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