Liverpool Showing 'Another Way of Winning' at Everton Bodes Well for Title Push
Since Liverpool's strong start to the 2015/16 Premier League season, some pundits have poured cold water on their title credentials by claiming that Jurgen Klopp's side don't have another way of winning than to blitz opponents away with relentless pressing.
It has been claimed in media circles that Liverpool do not have the cliched "other way" of winning—something that was thoroughly dismissed as Klopp's side recorded a 1-0 success in the Merseyside derby.
The Reds' first 1-0 win in the Premier League of 2016 arrived after rivals Everton had put them under firm pressure for the first half an hour, but Liverpool held on before taking control of the game in the second half and eventually getting their rewards deep into stoppage time.
It was another way of winning. A way of winning that title contenders have had in the past and that Liverpool showed at Goodison Park.
For much of the match, it looked as though this fixture was set to end in a draw for the fifth consecutive season, with both sides lacking the quality to put the ball in the back of the net. Eventually, though, Liverpool made the breakthrough in the fifth minute of stoppage time, as Sadio Mane pounced to tap home Daniel Sturridge's rebounded shot and notch his eighth goal of the campaign.
Toffees boss Ronald Koeman claimed post-match that defeat for his side wasn't deserved, according to the Press Association (via This Is Anfield), but in truth, his charges burned themselves out in the first 30 minutes and offered little goal threat thereafter. Klopp told Sky Sports that he couldn't remember an Everton chance, and he'd be right with that assessment.
Centre-back solidity
Praise must go to Liverpool's defensive unit for the way in which they coped in the early stages, as Everton enjoyed much more of the ball and territory, getting the ball wide and putting crosses into the box.
Liverpool fans were disappointed not to see Joel Matip back in the side, with the 6'4" defender struggling with an ongoing ankle issue, but they needn't have worried, as Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan put in superb displays both as a pair and individually.
Lovren provided the aerial competition to combat balls toward Romelu Lukaku, but it was Klavan who dealt with the Belgian on the ground and did so impressively. He was composed and classy—making crucial tackles, interceptions and clearances, reading danger and expertly marshalling the attacker who had previously scored five goals against Liverpool. It was easily the Estonian's best performance since signing for the club in the summer, and he was arguably the man of the match.
Klavan was seemingly behind Lucas Leiva in Klopp's thoughts at centre-back prior to the late collapse at Bournemouth, but he's shown he's a capable player who seemed to thrive in the derby atmosphere, staying cool despite the pressure.
Credit also must go to Simon Mignolet, who has kept two consecutive clean sheets since returning to the team last week. His better experience in these fixtures was no doubt key to Klopp's thinking when changing his 'keeper ahead of the Middlesbrough match, and Mignolet was again composed and calm.
Resilience under pressure
After throwing away the lead late on at Bournemouth three weeks ago, it was Liverpool's turn to show they had the character and fight to win when it mattered.
In the early stages, as Everton were in the ascendancy and Liverpool struggled for a foothold in the game, supporters may have been thinking this was going to be another case of Reds players failing to show the fight required or the bottle needed in a battle.
But Liverpool weathered the storm and came out the other side with their fitness intact—unlike the opposition, who had given all they had.
Perhaps then it was only a matter of time before Liverpool got their winner, but with Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino struggling to finish—Firmino in particular guilty of missing an excellent one-on-one chance against Maarten Stekelenburg—it needed substitute Sturridge's help to get the goal.
Sturridge is often criticised for apparently not having the right attitude—a bizarre accusation that is based on little evidence—and, just like last month when he came on and created chances despite Liverpool being four goals ahead against Watford, Sturridge was excellent.
"When you have Daniel on the bench you are always thinking about when is the right time to bring him on," Klopp said, per Paul Wilson of the Guardian. "It is an unusual situation but at the same time a good option when you can bring on his fresh legs when the game is so tight. He helped us a lot tonight in a difficult game."
Sturridge's shot dribbled past sub 'keeper Joel Robles and rebounded off the inside of the post for Mane to pounce. Sturridge's wait for a first league goal of the season continues, but again he had a key say in a Merseyside derby at Goodison—having headed the 89th-minute equaliser in a dramatic draw between these two sides in 2013.
The hope now will be that Sturridge can be fit enough to start perhaps against Stoke City on December 27, because even though Origi had scored five goals in five games before this contest, Sturridge still offers a lot more quality.
That is one of the bafflements when some supporters bemoan Liverpool's lack of depth in the squad on the one hand, but on the other hand, they claim Sturridge should be sold. He shouldn't, and Klopp knows his quality.
"And that is EXACTLY why Sturridge cannot be sold!!!!
— Kevin Thompson (@KevThompson) December 19, 2016"
Speaking to Sky's Monday Night Football post-match, Klopp said he would rather a 1-0 win with no players injured than a 4-0 win with a player ruled out for a long time—as was the case the last time these two sides met when Origi was eventually ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Reds' boss would also likely prefer an injury-time, morale-boosting victory of this nature, at the home of your nearest neighbours in the week before Christmas. It was just the type of win that propels teams.
In 2013/14, Liverpool got a late winner at Fulham in February that seemed to provide the platform for their unexpected title pursuit, while the 2008/09 season saw Dirk Kuyt hit a late winner at Manchester City in October that had a similar impact.
Games won late on are psychologically more than just three points, and the manner of this victory provides Liverpool with plenty to celebrate at their Christmas party on Tuesday night.
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