Bet: a word that means to gamble, to wager against something being correct. It can bring money and/or smugness, it can bring loss. Betting in sport can be a tough thing to judge, solely due to its unpredictability. Football is no different. Liverpool fans, including myself, are used to this with our club. It’s been common place for years.
Last night the team won back-to-back games for the first time in what seems like ages. Who would have bet against it? Well, probably everybody.
The Reds notched up a 3-1 win away to Leicester, a team that have only lost once at the King Power Stadium all season. Brendan Rodgers’ men had to dig deep for large parts, but that’s something they’ve almost become accustom to in the last few games. A habit that, if nurtured, could well aid the top four challenge above anything else this season.
We’ve seen the reintroduction of two older, more experienced players in the last three games, and it’s paid off for Rodgers. Both Kolo Toure and Lucas Leiva have played a major part in this mini-revival we’re in the middle of, and seem to have increased our solidity at the back. Who would have bet on that? Not me.
We now head into a home game vs. the somewhat struggling Sunderland with the chance to take 9 points from 9 and carry a three-game 100% record into that crucial Champions League match next week. Who would have bet on that after the loss to Palace?
Steven Gerrard has also been a catalyst for Liverpool’s latest surge in improved results. He’s been unshackled by his manager and now has a role from old; supporting the lone striker. He has freedom, and he can use that brilliantly as we saw on Tuesday vs. Leicester with his goal and involvement in the Reds’ third. Who would have bet on that?
Raheem Sterling has bounced back to prominence in the last few games, showing what a player he is. He’s had an indifferent few months, but now leads the Liverpool assists table, and is continuing to step up and raise fans’ expectations of him. At 19-years-old he is the epitome of what attributes Brendan Rodgers likes in his forwards: hard working, tactically aware, pacey, intelligent, defensively able where needed. He has all the tools. It’s easy to forget his age but we should embrace that.
Rickie Lambert looks to have gotten over his initial awe of playing for Liverpool and now appears to be showing the club what they bought for the small fee paid. He wins things in the air. He runs in behind. He has good technique for a proverbial big man. He’s now an important part of this Liverpool team with the absence of Sturridge and Balotelli. Who would have bet on that?
If the Reds continue to get back to basics, akin to Simon Mignolet just kicking rather than playing out from the back, then they have a real chance of continuing this form. If the Reds carry on being able to see out wins like they have, then they have a great chance of becoming a team who we can trust to win again. If Liverpool keep scoring and making sure they’re tight at the back, then they have a serious chance at the top four this season, which looked so unlikely just a couple of weeks ago. Who would have bet on that?
