Liverpool winger Stewart Downing believes the side is starting to click into gear and while it may be just a little too late to snatch a Champions League place he is confident they can still finish the season on a high.
The 4-0 demolition of Wigan at the DW Stadium came courtesy of a Luis Suarez hat-trick after Downing's second-minute header but there were other elements of the performance which impressed.
Since taking over in the summer manager Brendan Rodgers has spent his time trying to ingrain a new way of playing into the side, although he admits he will still require a number of transfer windows to bring the best out of his methods.
But the ease with which £8.5million January signing Philippe Coutinho seamlessly fitted in on only his third appearance - providing assists for the first two goals - suggests Rodgers' plan is working.
And despite their frequent difficulties in finishing off their dominance in possession results are starting to suggest when things go right they do so in impressive fashion.
The sequence of Liverpool's last six league victories since December 22 is 4-0, 3-0, 3-0, 5-0, 5-0, 4-0.
"I think it's coming together. We've had some good results of late. We're finishing teams off and defending ever so well," said Downing.
"Pepe Reina made some great saves (against Wigan) and if we do our bit at the other end of the field, we've got a chance.
"It's all coming together. We've got 10 games to go and we've got to keep winning games."
Liverpool's total of 53 goals from 28 matches is their second best at this stage of a Premier League season - bettered only by the 56 scored in 1995-96 - but Rodgers is not getting carried away.
He can see the progress being made but knows Champions League qualification this season remains some way off for his seventh-placed side at this point.
"We are not thinking about that. All we are looking at this moment in time is the next game - that is what we spoke about in the last few days," said the Reds boss.
No comments:
Post a Comment