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| Klopp's pursuit of perfection continues as Liverpool came from behind to win |
THE focus for Liverpool falls on powers of recovery.
Firstly, those belonging to Daniel Sturridge as he highlighted with two excellent goals exactly why there is so much fuss made on the occasions when injury precludes him from putting on his boots.
Then there is the new-found ability under Jurgen Klopp for this Liverpool team to haul itself back into contests when they have been dropped to the canvas.
And finally, in the immediate aftermath of the 6-1 demolition of Southampton in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, there was the thought of just what this season, a campaign that appeared to be about steadying the ship 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 might be.
Challenging for what? A cup win? The top four? The Premier League title itself?
Such is the paucity of the top flight this season that the top four is the very least Liverpool, re-energised and reinvigorated by Klopp’s sheer presence and approach, should be aiming for.
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| Divock Origi's hattrick powered Liverpool into the Capital One Cup semi-finals |
A title challenge would be largely dependent on Sturridge putting a run of games together because he boasts the pedigree to score 15 goals plus between now and May. For a side currently just six points off the summit of the table, despite the change of manager back in October and a raft of injuries, that sort of return would be transformational.
There nothing to fear for Liverpool.
Sturridge’s brace at St Mary’s would be later complimented by Divock Origi’s hat-trick, and a goal from the improving Jordon Ibe, but it was the England striker’s contribution that launched the comeback.
Klopp’s search for perfection means he will rightly frown on Saido Mane’s header after 41 seconds for Southampton, which seemed set to signal the start of a long evening for the visitors until the game was turned on its head.
“In a game you need to concentrate more than we are sometimes,” said Klopp. “It's no problem if you're woken up by the opponent, but it happens too often for us.
“Today we struck back and it's good. There's more confidence, but we can't dream.”
Yet the German manager will also recognise that 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), they have drawn with Rubin Kazan at Anfield and lost once against Crystal Palace when they conceded the lead for a second time at the death.
Now 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, won four, drew five and lost 20.
Of the last 10 of those under Brendan 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 much of the same group of players who previously considered the game was up as soon as they fell in arrears.
It is no coincidence that the turn-around has come following the introduction of his high-pressing, high-octane, front foot approach. Liverpool no longer know when they are beaten because Klopp refuses to countenance a game being over until the final whistle has sounded.
There remains plenty of work for Klopp to oversee. But if the argument is the 3-1 away win over Chelsea was because Jose Mourinho’s 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 was a substitute, Philippe Coutinho was not risked despite having returned to training and Mamadou Sakho has to come back from injury.
“It is not a miracle what he (Klopp) done,” said midfielder Adam Lallana. “He has put his ethos into the squad and game by game you have seen an improvement, but we need to keep going.”
If a 6-1 defeat away from home against a team in red and white stripes left Liverpool at their lowest ebb in recent times, then Wednesday showed how far they have come.
The question now is all about how far they can still go?
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