One step forwards, two steps back.
Liverpool's stop-start season was best summed up by Saturday's dismal draw with Chelsea, which saw both sides lacking any form of quality throughout the 90 minutes at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp's team now turn their attention to an FA Cup fourth-round tie with Brighton, who inflicted a damaging 3-0 defeat on the Reds only a fortnight ago.
Looking ahead to what may be in store on the South Coast for Liverpool, four supporters have shared their views as part of a weekly ECHO fan column.
READ MORE: Liverpool rebuild has stalled after Jurgen KIopp denied six new players
LIVERPOOL Q&A RECAP: Late transfer window business, team for Brighton, FSG sale and more
Rhys Buchanan (city centre, @Rhys_Buchanan) - Two clear starters for Sunday
With a healthy dose of perspective, last weekend's stalemate against Chelsea wasn't as miserable as it first felt, especially as we were redeemed by results elsewhere. I agree with Jurgen that another clean sheet acted as a stepping stone and we can also take heart from the return of Nunez plus a solid performance from young Bajcetic. I think those two names should be nailed on for the starting XI as we seek revenge down on the South Coast this Sunday. A result would be a massive spirit lifter as we look to mount a charge towards the top four. Roll on the 6am coach!
Andrew Cullen (Widnes, @brothersred5) - Gakpo must be afforded same patience Nunez was
Anyone feeling glum after the goalless bore draw against Chelsea should remember that these games are always tight, and Liverpool had to stem the bleeding after the Brighton debacle. The midfield three of Thiago, Bajcetic and Keita continues to look more combative and mobile, although they perhaps played better together at Wolves in the FA Cup third round replay, and deserve to start for the weekend’s fourth-round clash against the Seagulls.
Another starter should be Cody Gakpo, who's been thrown into a dysfunctional team and expected to wave a magic wand. Gakpo managed seven shots - and 15 in total during his time at the club - against Potter’s men and perhaps should have opened his account. There are perhaps comparisons to be made with Nunez and his trajectory. Our big players like Salah haven’t been scoring of late but that might suddenly change and with it results. Revenge is a dish best served cold; let’s hope our front three can plate up Brighton on Sunday.
David Shams (Washington D.C., @ShamsWriter) - Defensive stability offers glimmer of hope
Champions League football next season is likely nothing more than a pipe dream. Klopp’s finely-tuned machine needs an overhaul. The problems are probably too complex to sort in time for the same late season push produced two years ago.
Beyond the two clean sheets, what we saw last week against Wolves and Chelsea was a defence that, for maybe the first time all season, looked reasonably organised. The shape seemed less chaotic or prone to breaking down. It was a back-to-basics affair.
I’ve said it before, but there’s something to be said about the idea of resetting tactics to get everyone back on the same page. It’s the football version of IT’s famed, ‘have you tried rebooting your computer?’
And in that reset, there’s space for trying something bold. It was suggested by another member of the Jury columnists, but maybe it’s time we try Trent in the midfield trio. We look so much more secure defensively when he’s not at right-back – not because he can’t defend, but because he’s so far forward and his distribution and attacking nous are desperately needed. There’s really nothing to lose here.
James Noble (Worcestershire, @james_noble98) - Small steps can go a long way to end-of-season push
"A little step." Jürgen Klopp’s summary of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea felt reasonable. It was, perhaps, also valuable.
Perceiving Liverpool’s context can seem a challenge, currently. Positive moments, instinctively, can feel like they need to be clung to. Setbacks, meanwhile, can be hope-sapping uncertainty and inconsistency – whose polar opposites have been regular Reds traits in recent years – can make each result and performance feel somehow seismic.
Saturday may not have been the most enthusing of contests. ‘Mediocre’ was, indeed, one of the go-to descriptions. So, the idea of it representing “a little step” is arguably helpful. It comes across as a productively measured approach when the ship still feels in need of steadying. Similarly to the Wolves win, there were spells of pressure and elements of the shape that were encouraging, even if they weren’t accompanied by masses of ruthlessness and assurance.
Sunday’s FA Cup trip to Brighton, however it goes, will almost inevitably be compared to the recent league defeat there. In its own right, though, it ought to be another helpful measure for the team. Giant leaps may take a while to materialise, but those steps are a stable currency with which we can build towards them.
READ NEXT:
- Darwin Nunez truth now obvious at Liverpool as Fabinho concern alarmingly clear
- Liverpool might have just been handed '11th hour' opportunity to sign new midfielder in January
- LeBron James wears new Liverpool kit as 'open secret' is finally revealed
- Former Liverpool flop turned into a goalscoring machine at age 31 by Andrea Pirlo
- Jurgen Klopp has quietly found a surprising new Liverpool playmaker
