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On 9 April, Liverpool looked done and dusted for the season despite coming from behind against table-topping Arsenal. The Reds are expected to win every game at Anfield irrespective of the quality of the opposition. But, despite a top-four finish on the line, the Merseysiders woke up from their slumber after going two goals down and only managed to salvage a point after playing well enough to earn three points.
After the game against the Gunners, Klopp's men found themselves in seventh spot. They were nine points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United and third-placed Newcastle United, who had a game in hand as well.
However, what has transpired since then has completely flipped the table on its head. Arsenal have lost the top spot by drawing two and losing the top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City. Klopp's troops have registered six successive wins and are firmly back in the race for a top-four finish.
So, without any further ado, let's have a look at three reasons why Liverpool look destined to finish top four this season:
#3 Liverpool are peaking at the right time
Jurgen Klopp's men have displayed inconsistency throughout the season. While fans have seen flashes of brilliance from them, they have also been culpable of being completely chaotic as well.
As the Reds looked for consistency in the earlier stages of the campaign, the 9-0 hammering of Bournemouth was considered the turning point for Liverpool. However, Liverpool lost the momentum soon after beating Newcastle 2-1 at home.
The next three League games against Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Arsenal yielded only two points. What followed next was absolutely astonishing as Liverpool beat City and West Ham United 1-0 but then lost two successive league outings to bottom dwellers Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.
In a nutshell, the Reds have struggled for consistency throughout the season and this is the first time they have managed to put together a winning run. With key players such as Mohamed Salah and especially, Trent Alexander-Arnold back in form, the Reds are likely to finish the season strong.
#2 Healthy Squad
The sight of Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino, and, Luiz Diaz warming up must have been terrifying for Leeds United's fans in their recent outing against Klopp's team. The Reds won the game 6-1 and it kickstarted Liverpool's surge to the top four. They would certainly not have been in this position if their attacking options would have been fit for most of the campaign.
Luiz Diaz was absent since the 3-2 defeat against Arsenal back in September, whereas Diogo Jota was sidelined for four months in which he missed 16 Premier League games.
The midfield, which has been the Reds' weakest link this season, is not far behind Both Naby Keita and Thiago have missed 13 games through injuries and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has missed nine games this season. Additionally, the inconsistent form of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson would have mattered less had Keita and Chamberlain been fit.
However, things are much brighter now. With Klopp finally having most of his players fully fit, he can rest and rotate his squad depending upon circumstances. The last time Klopp's squad was this fit, they were challenging for the quadruple. This time around, Klopp's team is fighting for a place in Europe and they would not want to miss out on European nights at Anfield next season.
#1 Liverpool's rivals faltering at the right time
Despite their recent resurgence, the Reds won't finish above Newcastle United or Manchester United if they don't drop points from here on. Luckily for the Reds, their rivals are tottering at the finish line.
Manchester United have lost two successive games in the space of a week. The Red Devils are showing signs of a grueling campaign in which they have already played 57 games. United have only won three of their past eight games across competitions and key players such as David de Gea and Marcus Rashford are looking exhausted.
Newcastle United, on the other hand, have lost two of their past five league outings. They have a tough game to negotiate during the run-in, particularly against Brighton (who are chasing European places).
Liverpool have a fresher, healthier and deeper squad than their top-four rivals and their run-in is comparatively easy as well. So, one can expect Klopp's side to claim nine points from their remaining three games. And with some luck, they can see themselves hosting Champions League games next season as well.
