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| Liverpool players celebrate after Divock Origi scores against Southampton |
AS Liverpool departed St Mary’s after carrying out another away-day demolition job, it was no longer simply Daniel Sturridge’s powers of recovery that commanded attention.
On the one hand, there was admiration for this team’s new-found ability under Jurgen Klopp to haul itself back into contests when they have been dropped to the canvas.
After that came a wider sense of wonder at just what this season, a campaign that appeared to be about steadying the ship when the German replaced Brendan Rodgers two months ago, might now bring for the Anfield club.
“We need a little luck with injuries, but the squad is really strong to be a challenger,” said Klopp, his mask slipping for once as to what the possibilities may be following the head-turning 6-1 Capital One Cup trouncing of Southampton.
Such is the Premier League’s paucity that the top four is the very least Liverpool, re-energised and reinvigorated by Klopp’s sheer presence and approach, can aim for given they currently lie six points adrift of the summit.
A title challenge would be largely dependent on Sturridge staying fit and, should he do so, then the quality of his movement and finishing on Wednesday highlighted how he boasts the pedigree to score 15 goals-plus between now and May.
Sturridge’s brace was to be complimented by a hat-trick from Divock Origi and a goal from the improving Jordon Ibe and there have now been 10 different scorers in Klopp’s 11 games in charge.
In particular, Origi’s contribution served as an illustration of the benefits of the manager’s personal touch after the striker had been repeatedly drilled in training on the morning of the game as to what was expected of him.
The Belgium youngster will be drip-fed appearances, but Klopp’s knack of eking out improvement from a group which had previously lost its way is quite a statement.
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| Jurgen Klopp has lost just one of his 11 games in charge of Liverpool |
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| Daniel Sturridge returned to the starting XI with two goals against Southampton |
“Everyone wanted him before Liverpool bought him after the World Cup in 2014, but he has to learn,” said the Liverpool manager. “He has to be patient and to work. He made only easy passes, used his speed, defended and took his chances. His game was really good.”
The search for perfection means Klopp rightly frowned on Saido Mane’s header after 40 seconds for Southampton and, even in victory, he lamented: “It’s no problem if you’re woken up by the opponent, but it happens too often for us. There’s more confidence, but we can’t dream.”
Yet Klopp will also recognise there is something to be said for the manner in which his players respond to adversity now.
In five of Klopp’s 11 games, Liverpool have fallen behind. They have gone on to win three (Chelsea, Bordeaux and Southampton), drawn with Rubin Kazan and lost once against Crystal Palace when they conceded the lead for a second time at the death.
Contrast those figures with the games between the start of the 2014-15 season and Klopp taking over at the beginning of October. Liverpool fell behind in 29 matches, winning four, drawing five and losing 20. Of the last 10 of those under Rodgers, they drew one and lost nine.
Much can be made of statistics, but this feels significant; illustrating how Klopp has instilled belief and confidence in the same group of players who previously allowed their heads to drop when they fell behind.
It is no coincidence that the turnaround has come following the introduction of his high-pressing, front-foot approach. Liverpool no longer know when they are beaten because Klopp is the original glass-half-full kind of guy.
There remains plenty of work to oversee, not least in establishing Anfield as a fortress. But if the argument is the 3-1 away win over Chelsea was because Jose Mourinho’s side were in disarray, and the 4-1 thumping of Manchester City was in part due to the absence of Vincent Kompany, then by the time they left Southampton it was full of holes.
As Liverpool ran riot, it must have been heartening for Klopp, owners Fenway Sports Group and the club’s transfer committee that Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne were all unused.
Jordan Henderson made a late cameo as he steps up his comeback, Philippe Coutinho was not risked despite having returned to training, and Mamadou Sakho has to come back from injury.
If a 6-1 defeat away from home against a team in red and white stripes proved Liverpool’s lowest ebb in recent times, then Wednesday showed how far they have come.
The question now centres on how far they can go.
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