In the final game of the 2016/17 Premier League season, Liverpool secured a deserved victory over Middlesbrough and more importantly, a much-needed Champions League spot for next season. The Reds overcame a nervy start to win 3-0 at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp's men gave the supporters every reason for a party in the last home league match of an eventful campaign.
With a top four spot on the line, Arsenal won their respective game against Everton. However, it turned out to be inconsequential as it would be Liverpool who became the fourth team to qualify for club football's biggest competition.
Georginio Wijnaldum gave the Reds a lead on the cusp of half-time as his goal finally settled a nervy crowd at Anfield. The second half saw an absolute carnage from the hosts as Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana made it 3-0 in 11 minutes and in reality, it should have been much more. On that note, let's delve right into the five talking points from an important game which made this season somewhat successful for Liverpool:
#1 European nights of the best kind set to be back at Anfield soon
After their title challenge had fizzled at the turn of the year, the onus on Liverpool was to secure a top four spot on the table. The Reds had to toil hard for this as they often lost momentum against sides that were well below them. But credit has to be given to the character of the players as they fought hard and achieved their aim even if they had left to the last day fo the season.
Jurgen Klopp said in his post-match press conference, "We are Liverpool. We had to deliver that", which promptly gave an idea of the mood around the club tonight.
The fans were nervy at the beginning but a stellar second half display meant Champions League nights are just two qualifying games away. Liverpool were not in any European competition this season and another year without it would have been disastrous not only for the reputation of the club but also on the transfer front which would now be easy with Champions League football on offer.
#2 Wijnaldum - the man for the big occasions
Many were sceptical when Liverpool paid a huge sum to sign midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle United. He was slow to adjust to the demands of manager Jurgen Klopp but won the hearts of one and all with his smart industrious performances in the centre of the park. His contribution increased manifolds with his timely goals and assists - the exact reason for which he was signed; to add goals from midfield.
It was Wijnaldum who broke the deadlock against Middlesbrough as he hit a powerful shot in the direction of Brad Guzan's near post for which the custodian had no answer to. The goal changed the mood around the club as Wijnaldum's goal changed the complexion of the delicately placed game till then. The winner against Manchester City and equalisers against Burnley and Chelsea were some of his most important contributions this season. But tonight's goal would definitely surpass all of that.
#3 The same old story goes on for Middlesbrough
The Teeside club arrived with much fanfare last summer. With Aitor Karanka at the helm and a good summer in regards to transfer, they were arguably one of the favourites amongst the three promoted sides to stay up.
However, as the season wore on, the impression they soon made was one of being a team which likes to sit back and defend as much as possible. The goals were hard to come despite signings like Alvaro Negredo and Viktor Fischer and watching Boro this season became a tough task. Aitor Karanka was eventually sacked in the midst of a dismal campaign but the change at the helm didn't replicate into a change of fortunes for the team on the field.
At Anfield, the visitors made the same old mistakes that they made in the entire season and often lacked communication at the back which led to their downfall. A major overhaul is the need of the hour as Middlesbrough must look to bounce back straight away as this working class club deserves better than the tag of being one of the most boring teams ever to play in the Premier League.
#4 Liverpool were lucky not to concede a penalty in the first half
As mentioned above, Middlesbrough were not given any chance before the game to actually challenge Simon Mignolet's goal at Anfield. But it turned out to a wrong assumption as Boro created a brilliant chance in the first half only to see Patrick Bamford being hacked down from behind by Dejan Lovren – for which they would feel that they were hard done by the referee’s decision.
Patrick Bamford ran past Dejan Lovren rather easily and looked to close down on goal after getting into the box The Liverpool defender brought him down as, in the first instance, it looked like a stonewall penalty. But referee Martin Atkinson said nothing doing and it turned out to be a lucky break for the Reds. A penalty to Middlesbrough at that stage would have been disastrous for the Reds with Arsenal already leading 2-0 at that exact point.
#5 Jurgen Klopp's real test starts now
After a brief settling period in the first season and this being his first complete season, Jurgen Klopp's time till now in England can be called as a success. He has led Liverpool to two cup finals in his first season and secured the holy top four in the current campaign. He has surely been able to change the mood around the club but his real test begins in the summer and the season after that.
With Champions League sorted, Klopp might probably get the players he needs to take this team to the next level and Liverpool can finally have the first team squad that can stand up to the manager's demands. A trophy and a challenge for league honours will be the demands from the supporters next season as the German has had enough time in the league to get used to the nature of the English game.
With his signings and a proper preseason for the entire squad, big things can and should be expected from Liverpool next season.
