Just 2 defeats from their last 21 games and the ghosts of Selhurst Park being exorcised, maybe not to the extent of helping Liverpool win the Premier League title but this amazing run the Reds have been on since their 3-1 loss against Crystal Palace a few months back has seen them shoot up the Premier League table and are very much challenging for a top 4 place.
A season that started with so much promise was taking a disaster filled route. Liverpool just were not doing it on the field, most of the new players were not clicking, they had to rely on a young Raheem Sterling for everything in terms of attack and the defence was a shambles, things needed to change.
In the fickle world of football, fans were voicing their disapproval for not only the new players brought in but also questions were being asked about the manager, Brendan Rodgers, who almost got Liverpool over the line last season, was it all just about Luis Suarez with Brendan just standing and letting the Uruguayan do all the work?
New tactics = Better results
Last season, Rodgers played with a lot of formations, he started with a 4-3-3 then shifted to a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation which worked wonders for the club. They were switching between the formations and the team did not feel to be out of sync either. The whole team was gelling together and they were almost unstoppable in the second half of the season.
The same story can be placed for this season, a change in formation has helped Liverpool. Their defence was not being able to cope so they shifted to a back 3 with wing backs supporting the defence. The good thing about this change was that it gave the defence some protection while they could still play with 3 players up top.
The likes of Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno and Emre Can have been steadily impressing fans and pundits alike. Emre Can has played out of his skin in a role which he is not accustomed to. Can plays as one of the 3 centre backs but he has looked every bit a defender and has even impressed in attack for the team as a midfielder.
Markovic and Moreno have been doing their duty as wing backs and the torrent of abuse Simon Mignolet, the Liverpool goalkeeper had got seems to be evaporating as he puts in good performances for the club.
Mignolet was dropped by Rodgers indefinitely after a series of rather disappointing performances but once he came back into the team, due to the unfortunate injury of Brad Jones, he has looked every bit a goalkeeper that could challenge Thibaut Courtois as Belgium’s number 1 goalkeeper. Rodgers might not have dealt with the goalkeeping situation properly but it certainly has worked in the team’s favour.
Rodgers does deserve credit for this new formation and also the way his players have clicked. Raheem Sterling has looked great for most part of the season and giving him a mid season break in January was a great thing for him, certainly some pundits would have criticised the decision but it did not backfire and the Liverpool forward came back energized and charged for this crucial part of the season.
Also, bringing back Jordon Ibe from his loan spell at Derby has worked already. Ibe looks a great talent and a couple of performances by the young winger has shown that he is ready to play in the Premier League, another good decision by Rodgers with many people expecting him to bring Divock Origi from his loan spell at Lille.
We should not forget that having Daniel Sturridge back in action has helped the club as he is a top striker, someone whom Liverpool missed for a good chunk of the season. The final bit in the puzzle has been Mario Balotelli, who does seem to be clicking based on the last 2 games. Balotelli was very good in the second half of the FA Cup tie against Palace and maybe Rodgers dropping him for a few games has got the Italian performing again.
On the cusp of making a great run to the finals of the FA Cup and being just 4 points from a top 4 place, Liverpool have the players on form to make a charge to a good end of the season. They are also playing in the Europa League and face a tricky away tie against Besiktas, whatever L