As the Premier League title was being decided in Manchester, Liverpool was fighting for their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season. After a narrow 2-1 win against West Ham United, Liverpool’s hopes remain hanging by a thread, trailing six points behind Manchester United and Newcastle United, who both have at least a game in hand. Klopp continues to dispel any notion of a race for the top four, but some players still hold faith.
Liverpool’s Need for Consistency
Liverpool’s season has been a mix of highs and lows, featuring a 9-0 victory over Bournemouth and a 7-0 win over Manchester United, as well as shock losses such as a 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United and a 3-1 mauling at Brentford. Klopp’s side badly needs to achieve what they have struggled to all season: consistency, which used to be Liverpool’s hallmark. Last year, they won 16 of their last 18 league games to end the campaign, yet they entered this late-April fixture at West Ham having not won three games in a row since November.
Liverpool’s Rescue Act Against West Ham
In the opening stages at the London Stadium, it looked as if Liverpool’s trend of inconsistency would continue. However, Liverpool dominated possession, with Trent Alexander-Arnold standing out in his new hybrid role as both right-back and a playmaking No. 6 beside midfielder Fabinho. Despite multiple occasions where Liverpool’s consistency was threatened, a thumping header from defender Joel Matip in the 68th minute put them ahead and completed the rescue act, not just for the game, but also their ambitions for this season. Wednesday’s victory places at least a little pressure on Man United and Newcastle, who face Tottenham Hotspur and Everton on Thursday respectively.
Liverpool’s chances in a race for the top four are dismissed by Klopp, confirming the need for a rebuild this summer. Liverpool pulled out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham at least in part due to the need to spread transfer spending in the next window over several signings rather than one star acquisition. That leaves each Liverpool player fighting to show they still belong in a team that does not quite function the way it once did so brilliantly. Wednesday may prove to have been the start of a period of consistency that spurs Liverpool to a place in the Champions League next season, or it could simply be a brief bright spot. Either way, Matip’s header was enough to ensure it is not time to begin the inquest into Liverpool’s underwhelming season quite yet.
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