Liverpool gave us the answer we were looking for against Ajax, the pressure and intensity finally showed. But does the 17-day wait between games leave us relieved or wanting more?
It is fair to say that Jurgen Klopp was not wrong when he assessed the defeat in Napoli as a “true horror show”.
Honest truths were told and they had plenty of time to look in the mirror after the Wolves game was postponed, their chance to fight back had to wait six days.
We all wanted to see a win on the board, but many would not have been alone in thinking it would have to be done from the back, such is Liverpool’s propensity to give the opposition an early lead.
It didn’t work out that way, much to Anfield’s delight, and another late winner only served to dish out a shot of dopamine that has remained largely on ice so far this season.
The answer
With one hand over his heart and the other raised in gratitude, Klopp showed a relieved figure as he stepped onto the Anfield pitch after Liverpool’s latest victory over Ajax.
Before crossing that white line, he saw how his team went up with the intensity typical of his team, with aggressiveness and desire to equalize, that’s what we all wanted to see.
You could understand the trepidation an unbeaten Ajax caused some, as the last time Liverpool laced up their boots it was over the worst performance of Klopp’s tenure.
But with Thiago pulling the strings, doing the dirty work and pumping up the crowd, Luis Diaz as an energizing bunny who never stopped, Kostas Tsimikas as an attacking and defensive outlet, Joel Matip making his marauding runs and Mo Salah back in the scoreboard in Europe, an answer was well made.
“Much more intensity, much more aggressiveness, more courageous, more clever. Like I said, everything was better. It was a first step, nothing more, nothing more, but everything was fine,” Klopp said.
And if Ajax scoring with their first and only shot on goal was indicative of current defensive weaknesses, then Matip’s 89th-minute goal was a tribute to the mentality giants of yesteryear.
We have a bit of everything; something to keep us wanting more but also without distrusting the international break on the horizon, as long as the players return fit and healthy.
A break at the right time?
What about these 17 days without playing, then?
That’s an awfully long time in a season that will predominantly be played at a pace that comes with no chance to look up and catch your breath.
Following Liverpool’s return on October 1, Klopp’s men will play 13 games in 42 days, until domestic football comes to a complete halt for the World Cup.
That averages a game every 3.2 days — you can feel a full-body shake of Klopp from here around that time.
But it is a period the Reds will have to enjoy if they are to return from the World Cup period with trophies to fight for.
With seven league games, four Champions League ties and the opening match of the League Cup to come, this run will define what comes next.
The coach has said before, you can’t win trophies now, but you can certainly prepare yourself with the best opportunity to do so.
Victory over Ajax has put the wind back in Liverpool’s sails and few would not have balked at the prospect of facing Graham Potter’s newly appointed Chelsea on Sunday.
Damage control at Stamford Bridge started early by their new owners after 10 points from six league games showed more defensive weaknesses than Liverpool; however, it is not what some headlines would have you believe.
But while the wait will be long and probably excruciating, as every international break is, it offers Liverpool a chance to reset and refocus once again.
The postponed match ensures that the Reds head to half-time following a win, there are few things worse in football than sitting through a poor performance and result for a couple of weeks.
On top of that, hopefully we can welcome back some of those who are on the disabled list and hopefully not add any more names; surely we have already paid our dues.
The midweek result was not a solution, nor does it erase everything that came before, but it does mean that Liverpool have a direction to head in, a common goal renewed after days of what will have been brutal honesty.
If what we saw against Ajax was the “first step”, then the ones that should follow after the international break will be steps worth waiting for.
