Better

I realize it might not always feel that way, but at this point, on the evidence, Liverpool is now clearly in the midst of a legitimate turnaround. For one thing, we haven’t lost in over a month, in itself a significant milestone considering what came before. December, with its packed schedule, is always full of surprises, and I would suggest that engineering the turnaround during it is one such surprise. Maybe even a cause for quiet celebration. Sure, we won’t be winning the league this year or even getting close to it, but top-4 and the champions’ league now appears quite plausible, and that is still the minimum required baseline.

Sure, it’s frustrating to fall to a 97th minute worldie from someone who hasn’t scored in almost three years, but you can’t do anything about that. Harrion Reed will be justifiably proud of that goal, and it will surely end up on the season highlights reel. But let’s consider the positives. By drawing today, Liverpool doubled its tally of rescued points, perhaps the most shocking statistic of a shocking season. And barring that stupendous effort from Reed, we would have come home to Anfield with all three points in the bag after going behind, a feat yet to be achieved by the Reds this season.

Ultimately, all of this helps build confidence, and I imagine the players being more annoyed than relieved. That difference in their emotional reaction is often all you need to keep building. You’re not happy to have scampered home with a point; you’re upset you didn’t get all three, as you should have. And the team did it missing Isak, Ekitike, and arguably Salah, even though it’s reasonable to make the argument that his presence has been one reason for that horrible run. He certainly seems to be enjoying himself at Afcon.

Wirtz got on the score sheet again, perhaps undeservedly as he otherwise had a poor game, and the same can be said of Gakpo, but if anything, this also points in the same direction, as in-form teams tend to make heroes out of chumps. Liverpool isn’t quite in-form yet, but it’s getting there, and that inevitably leads to lucky breaks. The problems still show; in particular, the last 20 minutes of the first half were incredibly static. But the problems show to a lesser extent, the Reds looked hungry coming into the second half, and the equalizer was in the cards.

A very in-form champions elect Arsenal comes next, and that is an entirely different proposition. It is, and I may be understating it, inconvenient to face them in this moment, especially at the Emirates, but at the same time, Liverpool is one of only two teams (Villa being the other) to have inflicted a loss on the Gunners. In elite sports you never know, and as much as we don’t like to accept it, it is often more a matter of how the players feel going into a game than anything the coaches and managers do.

One thing, though, I can say with absolute certainty, which is that Pep is going to be cheering for the Merseysiders. Maybe Arne can reach out for some friendly tactical advice?