Liverpool earned their biggest Premier League win of the season, beating Swansea City 4-1 at Anfield on Monday night. The Reds scored four goals for the first time this campaign, while having 21 shots in the 90 minutes. It sealed back-to-back league wins, and saw Liverpool climb up the table to 8th.
“It was a great performance against a very good side. I felt for the big part of the game we dominated. The work-rate was outstanding and we were really exciting going forward. It was about getting back to performing well and getting ideas that will help the players play how we want to play. Tonight we were convincing. We have to keep that intensity and work-rate,” said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool certainly looked like the side of 2013/14 playing at Anfield with sheer intensity showing an unwavering pursuit for goals. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana didn’t give Swansea a second of rest all evening, and Rodgers was delighted to see his tactics paying off. But the question is, have Liverpool turned a corner? Or is it a false dawn?
While Liverpool’s narrow win against Burnley was far from convincing, there was no doubt of their dominance over Swansea this time around. The Reds seized the initiative early on in the game, and City never fully recovered. Defensive errors will irk Rodgers, but he will be buoyed by the attacking performance on display, as it replicated last season’s showings on home soil.
The Merseyside outfit are five points off a top-four place, and have a run of favourable games to come – Leicester City, Sunderland and Aston Villa – that could see them picking up maximum points. Recent results have been much-improved, and a selection of particular games played in the league this season gives reason to believe that the Reds can maintain their upturn in form.
Rodgers is getting the best of winger Raheem Sterling by playing him through the middle for Liverpool (3 goals from Liverpool’s last four games) where he receives more of the ball. The likes of summer signings Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno are starting to find their feet at the club, and things seem to be clicking on Merseyside.
Maximum points from their next three Premier League games is certainly possible, and would see the Reds close to a European place. Given how disappointing their start to the season was, is it too early to suggest Liverpool have turned a corner?
