Why Liverpool’s shock exit in the Champions League may produce the U-turn in form the Reds desire

Seeing Roberto Firmino’s headed goal dart into the Atletico net brought as much joy as any other moment all season for Liverpool fans.

It seemed as if another historic Champions League comeback was to be produced and the beginning of the side’s return to playing well again, however much like the dreadful weather, Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian’s mistakes occurred all night as his side ended up losing the tie from 2-1 up on aggregate to 2-4.

Despite the loss, it was arguably the best 90 minutes Jurgen Klopp’s side had played throughout this campaign. The problem was, they came up against the best goalkeeping performances you will ever see.

But going back to the football produced by Liverpool, it was easily the best they had played since mid-February where the away side scrapped away with three points at Norwich in a one goal game.

From the 1-0 result against Norwich to the 3-2 loss to Atletico, Liverpool only managed three wins from seven matches and bar the Champions League match at Anfield, Klopp’s men looked far from the team they proved they could be.

However, now Liverpool have crashed out of the Champions League and The FA Cup (following their 2-0 loss to Chelsea), Klopp and his staff don’t need to make the hard decisions of resting players to suit their desire to win everything-there is only one focus…the league.

It has been 30 years since Liverpool Football Club won the English top flight title, and now more than ever it is appearing that this current campaign may be the one to end the long break from being the top side in England.

Liverpool 89-90 league winners, credit This Is Anfield

Due to circumstances outside the club or anyone’s reach, this side may not get the opportunity to complete their unbelievable season-Liverpool were unbeaten in the league until the end of February and are currently on a record of 27 wins with one draw and loss a piece.

Now with one goal and no other distractions, Klopp and the team will secure the chance to win the league and it would be no surprise if they were to win all of their nine remaining fixtures.

Teams such as Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal remain in Liverpool’s wake, but the fact the league is only a couple of wins from the clutches of Anfield will surely play a massive part in the minds of their opponents.

Furthermore, City are still in with a chance to win the Champions League after being 2-1 up on the first leg against Real Madrid, and if he has to, Pep Guardiola will make significant changes to his team to secure a trophy this season.

One massive factor to why Liverpool’s form will make a turnaround, is the fact that captain and my player of the season Jordan Henderson will have returned from his hamstring injury.

The skipper missed a two-week period where his side struggled, and his return will bring significant leadership and heart that Liverpool have missed recently.

Throughout his Liverpool career, Henderson has had plenty of criticism, but there is no player in the world right now who I’d rather watch lift the title for the reds (apart from Mario Balotelli of course)-deserved is an understatement.

This Liverpool side has left everyone else in the rear-view mirror, and when the league resumes, it is just a question of when they will cross the finish line.

The firepower hasn’t gone away just because of their poor recent form.

‘One season wonder’ Mohammed Salah is currently the third top goal scorer in the league this season, and his Senegalese teammate Sadio Mane is only two away on 14-with those two, goals are always inevitable.

His header in the loss against Atletico may have been his first goal at Anfield all season, but that won’t stop “Bobby” from creating his never-ending Brazilian flair either.

The combination of that famous front three, as well as a further variety of three workhorses in midfield and the reliable defence featuring Virgil Van Dijk, whose performances are putting him in the conversations for best defender to play in the Premier League, provide fans with the upmost confidence they can turn the team’s form around.

Let’s not forget, their unbeaten record of 44 matches is the second longest run in history, and only five short of Arsenal’s historic unbeaten season-44 matches without losing in the world’s toughest league is an achievement that shouldn’t be overshadowed.

Lastly the winner of The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award, Jurgen Klopp, has the charisma and man management to get each player believing they can still finish the job, even the likes of Adrian after another night to forget in a Liverpool shirt.