Liverpool analysis: Reds get double defensive boost as deal with Ben Davies draws near

Another great week

So Liverpool are heading into their biggest week since, well, their last when they meet on Monday morning.

What a difference a few days in soccer can make.

They certainly have done it for Jurgen Klopp as he examines the new landscape of the Premier League title image.

Six points out of six against the two teams on either side of them has moved the champions to third place and now they only look up.

The stumbles and slips of Manchester United and Leicester have helped, but Liverpool’s conviction, faith and desire have been there for everyone to marvel at this week.

After being prematurely discarded by so many, they have come out of their midseason slump in astonishing fashion.

Now, they look at every inch of the side that swept everything before them last quarter.

Add much-needed coverage on central defender on the day of the transfer deadline and Liverpool’s prospects look much healthier than they did eight days ago when they were eliminated from the FA Cup by a Manchester United team that was six points ahead. from them. in the league.

The six goals scored have also sidelined talks about sterile runs and goal droughts and given the Reds the much-needed arm shot at just the right time.

But the big games don’t stop for Liverpool as they prepare to host Brighton at Anfield on Wednesday.

The recent skid at Burnley will have no one looking at Sunday’s clash with Manchester City, but the win against the Seagulls will mean that the visit of Pep Guardiola’s men will take on even more importance.

A decisive player? Maybe not quite.

But it could be the game that drives them back in their favor.

Jones has arrived

For the better part of an hour, Liverpool had worked hard in the capital.

There was no lack of effort on display, but the inspiration from Thursday night at Tottenham hadn’t carried over to the other side of London on Sunday afternoon.

The time was approaching and Liverpool were once again at bay for a hard-working West Ham.

Curtis Jones enters.

James Milner had made a frustrated figure alongside Jurgen Klopp after taking offense at his departure.

Moments later, however, Jones’ dribble had opened the West Ham defense, Salah had made it 1-0 and it was all smiles between the vice-captain and his manager.

With Naby Keita regaining his physical form, Jones offers the Reds midfield something that no one else in that engine room does.

The former under-23 captain has the ability to move forward and take the fight. It is a quality that is also capable of unraveling heavily wounded defenses.

Last season was one that Jones will never forget as a Liverpool player.

In addition to goals against Everton, Shrewsbury and Aston Villa, he also became the youngest captain in club history at just 19 years and five days.

However, in many ways this season has been even more impressive than the last as he has become more mature in this Liverpool team.

The local boy is no longer just a promising young man, his importance grows week by week.

Having turned 20 at the weekend, Jones, with 23 appearances to his name this season, is now a full-fledged first-team player at Anfield.

With that comes responsibility, but he’s taken it in stride to perfection.

Here comes the cavalry, but the alternates can be proud

After 31 days, Liverpool’s search for central defender, fortunately, belatedly, seems to have come to an end.

It’s a quest that has gone from curious gaze to frantic hunting as the month progressed.

But the Reds, it seems, have found their man.

However, speculative bettors would have earned a fair scab if they had put their money into a £ 2 million deal for Ben Davies of Preston North End.

The 25-year-old is ready for a medical exam Monday before adding much-needed coverage to a depleted area of ​​Jurgen Klopp’s team.

The fact that Davies may be lined up in a Liverpool squad that entertain Manchester City on Sunday afternoon is further proof, if need be, of how strange the sport can be at times.

But even considering an impressive defensive performance at London Stadium and, to be fair, Tottenham on Thursday, Liverpool couldn’t allow that role to fool them into thinking the cracks had been sealed.

Nat Phillips has answered the call on several occasions for Klopp this season, playing his role in three wins and two draws in his five Premier League appearances.

Here he was again against the Hammers, offering a no-frills brand of defense, earning headers, keeping it simple and ensuring the hosts stayed at bay.

Choose your LFC Man of the Match right here

The way this unpredictable season has gone so far, I wouldn’t rule out Phillips continuing to play a key role in Liverpool’s campaign.

But while Davies’ imminent arrival will likely see a reduced role for Phillips in the future, the Bolton-born defender will once again be a background performer with a great sense of pride.

Deservedly too.