There are defining moments during a football season and you get the feeling Liverpool had one on Monday night.

In a bit of a drab affair, German international Emre Can scored a wonderful bicycle kick in first-half injury time and that wonderful goal was enough to secure Liverpool all three points against Watford.

Can has described the sensational strike as:

“the best goal I’ve ever scored”

But the midfielder’s overhead kick meant more than just goal of the season contention, it also made sure that his club once again had their Champions League destiny in their own hands.

In the previous week Jurgen Klopp’s men trudged off the Anfield pitch knowing that their loss to Crystal Palace wasn’t good enough and it handed an advantage to both Manchester clubs, who were hunting down Liverpool’s valuable top four place in the Premier League.

But instead of piling on the pressure both Man United and Man City stumbled to draws in their Sunday encounters with relegation battling sides.

That meant that the red half of Merseyside knew that they could reaffirm their place in the league table on Monday night.

But the ‘Reds’ squad knew they had to deal with that pressure and win the match, something that they had failed to do against Palace.

Emre Can was the unlikely goalscoring hero but it was all too timely and now Liverpool have to use that as a springboard to see out the rest of their league fixtures.

Liverpool’s last three games of the season don’t look overly awkward either.

First off they welcome Southampton to Anfield this Sunday. Southampton have little to play for as they’re in a safe mid-table position. It should also be noted that the Saints have failed to record a victory in their last three fixtures.

Klopp will then take his men down to London, where they’ll face West Ham United in the penultimate game of the campaign. How tricky that game will be could depend on the Hammers and if they are safe from the drop-zone come the fourteenth of May. If results go their way this weekend then West Ham will be mathematically safe from relegation. It’s worth pointing out that Slaven Bilic’s side have struggled at their new home this season and have only won six home games in the league this term.

Finally Liverpool will entertain Middlesbrough on the final weekend of the season. Unfortunately for Boro they could be down by that time but Liverpool have to be wary of a side that want to go down with a fight!

Jurgen Klopp needs to get three more cup final type performances from his squad.

If they can win all three of those matches then they’ll be guaranteed the luxury of Champions League football next season. That will mean more money in the summer, the club will be more attractive when trying to bring in world class talent and that it should ultimately give them the foundations to challenge for the Premier League title next year!

It’s crazy to think just how valuable that Emre Can goal against Watford could end up being for the Anfield side.

Posted on May 3rd, 2017 by scott
Filed under: Article