Liverpool definitely weren’t at their finest of their 1-0 victory at residence to Brentford, however they’re exhibiting robust psychological fortitude of their unlikely top-four push.
Jurgen Klopp‘s males edged out the Bees on Saturday night, with Mohamed Salah‘s close-range effort incomes the hosts all three factors.
Solely a win would do at Anfield, by way of maintaining stress on Newcastle and Man United, and they’re giving themselves an outdoor likelihood of Champions League soccer subsequent season.
Right here’s how the media assessed Liverpool’s win, as they made it six Premier League victories in a row.
It wasn’t fairly from the Reds, however they received the job completed…
Aaron Bower of the Guardian centered on a constructive evening at Anfield:
“The celebs of the music world descend on Liverpool subsequent weekend for Eurovision however proper now, it’s Jürgen Klopp and his gamers who’re hitting the precise tune.
“That is now six Premier League victories in a row for the Reds and whereas they continue to be outsiders for Champions League soccer subsequent season, they’re asking the entire proper questions of these above them.
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“From a place of near-impossibility only a few weeks in the past, the Reds at the moment are firmly within the high 4 image. The hole to Manchester United is only a solitary level and whereas Erik ten Hag’s facet have two video games in hand, victories like these proceed to say the stress on each them and third-placed Newcastle, who’re three adrift.
“That, after being to this point behind for thus lengthy, is basically all they’ll do, they usually did sufficient right here in an entertaining contest to keep up their momentum.”
On Twitter, David Lynch praised the dogged nature of Liverpool’s victory:
I am undecided we’ll see Liverpool calmly seeing video games out with possession till they deal with their midfield points, however thought they stood as much as Brentford’s direct strategy fairly effectively and performed some respectable stuff. It is a work in progress however six wins on the bounce says rather a lot.
— David Lynch (@dmlynch) May 6, 2023
Mike McGrath of the Telegraph is impressed by the style through which Liverpool are placing stress on their rivals:
“The larger image for Jurgen Klopp’s group is that they’re placing large stress on Manchester United within the race for the Champions League locations. Klopp has performed down possibilities, saying his group had longer to place collectively a run once they got here up on the rails within the 2020/21 marketing campaign.
“However they’re stringing collectively wins that may see them run United shut. With Erik ten Hag’s group shedding on Thursday night, this victory took Liverpool some extent behind their nice rivals.
“They’ve performed extra video games, however have utilized scoreboard stress with wins on the board. Over to their arch-rivals at West Ham on Sunday.
“It’s seen as unbecoming to have a good time a fourth-placed end in the way in which Arsenal used to underneath Arsene Wenger, but who would begrudge Liverpool their second in the event that they overhaul United.
“They have been in tenth place at the beginning of February, with barely a hope given of European qualification not to mention the Champions League.”
It was yet one more record-breaking day for the incomparable Salah…
Tom Blow of the Mirror questioned the place Liverpool could be with out their legendaru No.11′
“Erling Haaland has damaged loads of data this season, however he isn’t the one Premier League ahead making historical past in the mean time. Salah added one other wonderful chapter to his Liverpool story on Saturday night by scoring his a centesimal aim at Anfield.
“His strike additionally took him stage with Steven Gerrard on 186 for the Merseyside membership – inserting them joint fifth within the all-time file books.
“It was a vital aim too, because it gave Liverpool the benefit in opposition to Brentford. Fabinho, in acres of house on the sting of the field, chipped the ball into Virgil van Dijk to assault. The Dutchman then headed the ball throughout to Salah, who (finally) bundled it into the online.
“Salah now has 30 targets in all competitions this season, with 19 of these coming within the Premier League. The place would Liverpool be with out him?”
This Is Anfield‘s Henry Jackson was one other who was in awe of Salah:
“Stage with Steven Gerrard – in 408 fewer appearances!
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“Within the eyes of some lazy outsiders, Salah has been having a ‘poor’ season, but he poked residence his thirtieth aim of the marketing campaign to open the scoring at Anfield.
“It meant he turned the primary Liverpool participant in historical past to attain in 9 consecutive appearances at Anfield. One other file for Mo!
“Salah is now simply the fourth Liverpool participant in historical past to attain 30 or extra targets in three consecutive seasons, and he’s stage with Steven Gerrard (186) at fifth within the all-time scoring charts.
“Has he been at his best possible all season? No. However we decide him on one other stage than virtually any participant on the planet.”
Neil Johnston of BBC Sport additionally couldn’t disguise his admiration for the Egyptian King:
“The place would Liverpool be with out Salah?
“In entrance of Liverpool’s all-time file scorer Ian Rush, Liverpool’s quantity 11 reached a century of targets on the iconic residence of the Reds, whereas Salah has now scored 30 targets or extra in 4 of his six seasons at Liverpool.
“Fabinho was closely concerned within the transfer for the aim, the Brazil midfielder taking part in a stunning move into the field for Van Dijk to tee up Salah to equal Steven Gerrard’s tally of 186 for Liverpool in all competitions.
“On a day of milestones, Alisson was comparatively untroubled because the Brazil keeper made it 100 clear sheets for Liverpool in all competitions, whereas Trent Alexander-Arnold produced the move of the match to arrange Darwin Nunez who ought to have made it 2-0.”
So, is a top-four end actually on?
Jackson definitely isn’t giving up hope simply but:
“The chances stay stacked in opposition to Jurgen Klopp‘s males, contemplating their rivals each have two video games in hand, however funnier issues have occurred than a collapse for both.
“Liverpool followers will probably be donning West Ham and Arsenal shirts on Sunday, as United head to east London and Newcastle host the Gunners.
“If each win, it should really feel like an enormous nail within the Reds’ coffin, however they’re refusing to surrender hope, which is encouraging after such an appalling run of type earlier within the marketing campaign.
“It’s a case of Klopp’s group successful their final three video games and seeing what occurs – even when they miss out on high 4, issues will definitely really feel much more constructive than they did a month or so in the past.”
Lastly, Blow believes individuals ought to write Liverpool off at their peril:
“Someway, there’s now only one level separating Manchester United in fourth and Liverpool in fifth. Though Erik ten Hag’s facet have two video games in hand on their bitter rivals, there isn’t a doubting Klopp’s males have loads of momentum for the run-in.
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“Liverpool’s revival is paying homage to the 2020/21 marketing campaign, once they picked up 26 factors from their remaining 10 Premier League video games to climb from eighth to 3rd within the desk.
“The Reds are nonetheless prone to miss out on a top-four end, however they’d ship an enormous message to the likes of Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal if they’ll end the marketing campaign with a nine-game successful run. Eventually, they’re beginning to appear to be title contenders once more.
“The long run is brilliant, Liverpool followers.”