Keeping up with the Joneses

The winning streak continued then with a comprehensive 3-0 victory away at Leicester, which actually flattered the hosts.

We didn’t start particularly well to be honest, but of a shaky opening 20, which has been the way really since we started this new system. Once the first goal went in however, what little confidence Leicester had, drained away and the second shortly after finished the game as a contest.

Speaking of those first two goals though, take a bow Curtis Jones. Many (myself included) have been ready to write Curtis off at times. It feels like we’ve been waiting for him to find this form for about three years, every season we keep saying it’s a big season for Curtis, he needs to kick on this season and for a variety of reasons (predominantly injury) it’s never happened. Since his recent return to the team however, he’s been proving his doubters wrong and in all likelihood has saved his LFC career, at least in the short term.

His first goal was reminiscent of the goal he scored the other week, arriving late at the back post to side foot past the keeper into the bottom corner. It looked simple but don’t be fooled. It’s a high, looping cross from Salah that bounced just before Jones struck it. Very easy for that to come off a player’s ankle and balloon over the bar and when a player is low on confidence, that’s exactly what would have happened. Curtis has found his mojo again though and if there were any remaining doubts, his second goal showed the confidence flowing through him. A nice pass from Salah, one touch and boom into the back of the net. A brilliant goal, from a player in the form of his life.

Speaking of players in great form, the third goal was a thing of beauty as well. After winning a free kick just outside the box, Trent and Salah stood over the ball. Salah rolled the ball to change the angle and Trent beautifully struck it into the top corner, leaving the keeper no chance and with that the game was well and truly over.

Salah will be wondering how he didn’t get on the scoresheet himself after being sent clean through, with all the time in the world, only to inexplicably miss the target altogether. He’ll be happy with a hat trick of assists though I’m sure, although being awarded an assist for the third demonstrates how stats can become a bit skewed.

There were a few top performances to be fair. Curtis (McMOTM) obviously but Trent is demonstrating how devastating he can be in a midfield role and Fabinho has looked much more like himself in recent weeks. My only concern about the upturn in recent form from Jones and Fabinho is that it comes at a time when it’s common knowledge new midfielders are going to be arriving in the summer and there may be an element of playing for their futures attached to it but regardless, they have found form and at the very least, the added competition that will arrive in the summer usually pushes players to perform at their highest level, or they simply won’t play.

Gakpo is quietly becoming a very effective player as well. He’s almost the polar opposite of Nunez, quiet, technically excellent, good touch and passer of the ball and seems a very intelligent player, unlike Captain Chaos who’s all blood and thunder. He’s fitting very well into the Bobby role though, although that does beg the question where it leaves Nunez next season.

McFOTM goes collectively to the Leicester fans for their vile chanting. Thankfully we won’t need to listen to it from them next season as they’ll almost certainly be in the Championship. Hopefully the door hits them on their way out of the league.

The top four dream is still on then, albeit still highly unlikely but all we can do is keep United and Newcastle honest by winning our games and applying pressure, which we have been doing. The future looks a lot brighter though than it did a few weeks ago.

Next up an in form Villa, which will definitely be a test for our new system with the tactically astute Unai Emery at the helm but as long as we bring our best form we should have too much for them. Unfortunately as United and Newcastle play Bournemouth and Leicester respectively, I’m not expecting either of them to do us any favours but in this league, you just never know. Walk on!