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Liverpool: Chelsea draw could signal the end of Reds’ poor form

By Craig Pearson

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool celebrates scoring his side's first goal to make it 1-1 during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on January 31, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool celebrates scoring his side's first goal to make it 1-1 during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on January 31, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool managed to draw 1-1 with Chelsea on Tuesday. A result and performance that could now signal the end of the Reds’ poor run of form.

If Liverpool manage to get back on track in their upcoming games, people will likely blame it on January. It was just a bad month, nothing more. Or talk up the return of Sadio Mane and proclaim him the saviour.

But it was Tuesday’s draw with Chelsea that could now prove to be the launch pad for Liverpool to return to form. It was doom and gloom before the game. Liverpool fans were hopeful, but not particularly expectant.

The month of January has been horrendous for Jurgen Klopp’s team. Four Premier League games brought three draws and one loss. Nine games in all competitions saw one win, four draws and four losses.

The players looked tired and a shadow of the team that had ripped through many opponents earlier in the campaign. But the game against Chelsea saw Liverpool look a bit more like the team from earlier in the season in patches.

Nowhere near the same level yet, but there was more energy, fire and intensity. Especially in the second half. Even the first half started well, before a David Luiz free kick took the air out of the home team’s sails.

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But the second half saw a fightback. Some character. More of the Liverpool tenacity everybody had become accustomed too. Roberto Firmino missed some clear goalscoring chances to win the game. It could have been different. Although, Diego Costa also missed a penalty for Chelsea.

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That’s the luck you need sometimes though. The team avoided defeat in the end, and that’s the first plus. Another loss would have tied a 94-year club record for consecutive losses. The performance, against the league leaders in particular, offers confidence and encouragement now.

Sadio Mane is back also. The Senegalese wasn’t fit enough to start after returning late from the Africa Cup of Nations. But he was lively when he entered the game and Liverpool will be better for his presence in the coming weeks.

Up next, Liverpool face Hull City on Saturday. Before then taking on a tricky run of Tottenham, Leicester City, Arsenal, Burnley, Manchester City and Everton. On paper it looks a tough run coming up.

Hull away is obviously winnable, whilst Tottenham will be difficult. But after that, Leicester, Arsenal and Manchester City are not exactly on form themselves right now. Whilst Burnley have lost nine of ten away games this season. The worst road team in the league.

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The run finishes with a derby against Everton at Anfield. The team wont need lifting for that one. Neither will the home crowd. And especially not if by then the Reds have racked up a decent run of form in the preceding games.

With Mane now returning and a more energized performance against Chelsea, that could now happen. Liverpool looked tired before. But now they might just be about to catch their second wind.

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