Liverpool analysis: Reds show more resilience as midfield questions arise again

Relief: Liverpool left it late to seal all three points against Tottenham on Sunday
Action Images via Reuters
David Lynch31 March 2019

For whatever reason, Liverpool seem to be determined to underline the truth in that old adage about the irrelevance of playing well in this part of the season.

As was the case at Fulham prior to the international break, the Reds did not do enough against Tottenham to merit three points to put them in front of Manchester City.

Yet that is exactly what they got courtesy of another late goal that looked unlikely as the visitors grew into the ascendancy in the second half at Anfield.

For now, Jurgen Klopp and every single Liverpool supporter will not care quite how the points were claimed, just that they were.

But you feel that the challengers will have to do more than just enough before the end of the season if they are to overthrow the champions.

Man City must be sick of resilient Reds

In Pictures | Liverpool vs Tottenham | 31/03/2019

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If Pep Guardiola still had hair, he’d have been tearing it out.

City looked set to be given some breathing room in the title race as this game moved towards its conclusion only for Mohamed Salah to somehow help put Liverpool back in front.

The champions have the better squad, all the title-winning experience, and arguably the best manager in the world leading them, and yet they just can’t shake this Reds team off no matter how hard they try.

Klopp’s men are doing everything they can to keep the pressure on City, and have every chance of making them crack before May.

Salah’s winning moment can be a springboard

Anfield announcer George Sephton was perhaps being generous in announcing Salah as the winning goalscorer after Toby Alderweireld had inadvertently diverted the ball home in injury time.

But the Egyptian still deserves huge credit for forcing the error by producing an on-target header from a back-post cross that initially looked to have been overhit.

A dramatic finish at Anfield may serve to mask the fact that Salah has now gone eight games without a goal for Liverpool - his worst run for the club by some distance.

Yet his involvement in what could be such a vital moment in the title race could well provide a route back to goalscoring form for the usually prolific winger.

Klopp almost pays for late response

Jurgen Klopp was eventually all smiles after a dramatic afternoon at Anfield
Action Images via Reuters

With his side 1-0 down and mostly creating chances only through Liverpool errors, Mauricio Pochettino had to change things at half-time.

And so the Argentine reshuffled his back three into a back four - a move that completely changed the complexion of the game.

With an extra man in the middle of the park, Spurs began to dominate proceedings, and they fully merited their equaliser when it came.

Moments prior, Klopp had brought Jordan Henderson over to the touchline for a reshape of his own, but it was too little, too late.

Perhaps the Reds could have held onto their lead had they reacted more quickly to Pochettino’s tactical switch… not that it mattered.

Midfield questions rear their head again

Liverpool may need to turn to Brazilian Fabinho to gain more midfield control
Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Although it won’t be discussed in the immediate aftermath for obvious reasons, Liverpool’s loss of control in the second half is sure to raise questions about the midfield when the dust settles.

With a settled back five and front three, the centre of the park is the only part of the field where Klopp has difficult decisions to make on a weekly basis.

But he needs more than he saw in the second period here in the coming weeks if the Reds are to keep the pressure on City.

Fabinho looked to have played himself into the holding role before missing out on a starting place in recent big fixtures: Bayern Munich away and today’s game.

The Brazilian surely can’t be kept on the sidelines for much longer if Klopp wants more control in a vital part of the pitch.

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