Jurgen Klopp revealed Liverpool’s winning run has been inspired by a desire to “start the new season already”, after a campaign that has proved so frustrating.
The Reds were languishing down in eighth in the Premier League after their goalless draw with Chelsea at the start of April, having one just won of their away matches in the League since the turn of the year.
However, Liverpool followed that up by coming from two-goals down to earn a point against Arsenal, then top of the table, and since then have won six matches on the bounce to raise the prospect of an unlikely top-four finish.
Klopp’s side now sit just one point behind Manchester United in fourth and a further two points back from Newcastle, though have played a game more than both of those sides and the charge may have come just too late.
However, ahead of his side’s trip to face relegation-threatened Leicester on Monday night, the Liverpool boss revealed the gap between the Arsenal game and the trip to Elland Road allowed time for key changes to be made.
“We try to give ourselves a chance for a fresh start with a lot of different things, different football things,” Klopp said.
“We had eight or nine days between games and we wanted to use that time to start the new season already, not knowing where it would lead us to but we didn’t want to waste more time.
“It was a breath of fresh air. Not just for the players but for all of us and the coaches as well. We want to control the game differently, protect our game differently, in different formations and to be honest, it’s really good fun to think about it, work on it and then the results came in.
“Sometimes you have to change big things to turn things, not just little things.”
After their trip to face Leicester, Liverpool then host Aston Villa before travelling to Southampton, who will likely be relegated by that point, on the final day of the season.
Attention will then turn to the summer transfer business, with a midfield rebuild high on the Liverpool agenda, and Klopp is confident that the club will be able to have a successful window even if they finish outside of the top four.
“It’s obvious we have to be part of the Champions League, fight for trophies and these kind of things,” Klopp said.
“If you want to be part of that, you’re more than welcome. We cannot guarantee this year Champions League football.
“But all the rest is the same as before. A fantastic club with a really good football team - and a better one hopefully next year. It’s really that simple. Still Liverpool. We’re really attractive to a lot of players.”
