Have Liverpool turned the corner?

Every few weeks there’s a team coming off the back of a few losses or indifferent form.

This season Liverpool have been that team. We’ve heard the excuses ranging from Suarez to £120m of talent wasted. The midweek game at Bournemouth showed that the team is finally finding its rhythm. No known striker playing up top yet Sterling was finding the space in the way that none of Sturridge’s stand-ins could do.

If we’re realistic we could say oh well it was only Bournemouth. Only a team that is top of the championship. A team that has a a record of won 7 drawn 3 in their last 10 league games. A team that have scored 50 goals in 22 games. This was a Bournemouth team that were full of goals playing against a team that has struggled to score goals and keep clean sheets.

Liverpool at times showed that class and level that had been missing. That level that usually ushered critics to say “we expected them to win”. This was a game that no Liverpool fan could confidently say they expected them to win. Bournemouth had their chances and against a different team, perhaps Arsenal, Liverpool would’ve let one or two in. That would’ve changed the complexion of the game entirely and caused the nerves in our back 4, including Jones, to start.

Today Liverpool come up against Arsenal.The Premier League title chasing also rans. The team that no matter how sticky a patch they go through always grind out the wins to get top 4 at the end of the season.

A Liverpool back three of Skrtel, Toure and Sakho is likely with Lovren a doubt. Up against Giroud, Welbeck and Sanchez. Pace and power against uncertainty does not bode well. However if Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho can get on the ball they may find that the Arsenal keeper, whether it be Szczesny or Ospina, is not as unbeatable as De Gea.

What is for sure right now is that Liverpool need a performance at Anfield. I was at the Sunderland game earlier this month and the players looked out of depth, on edge, wary of making a mistake and having the fans on their back. The fans need to get behind the team and lift them especially today. With a win Arsenal go 8 points clear. With a Liverpool win they move within 2 points of the Gunners.

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