Lets face it, after a seventh placed finish last season, not many expected Liverpool to even be challenging for a top-four finish. Just when it appeared that their time as a powerhouse was over, was when the Reds came roaring back at their critics, with incredible wins at Anfield, and also away from home. Now they stand on the top of the league that their dominance in appeared to be slipping. Guess top-four isn't even enough for them at this stage.
The mentality of this team is incredible. Liverpool just want more and more. They aimed for top-four, but their passion for winning has driven them to the point where they are exceeding not only their expectations, but their objectives. Even Luis Suarez was back defending for the team at times, as was Sterling. This desire to win, this passion that they have for the game is a mentality of champions. They play with confidence as well, knowing that they are capable of matching (or getting the better of) the best. Liverpool's players fight for each other and not themselves. Just look at Henderson's goal. Suarez could have claimed tapping it in, but the moment the ball was in the back of the net, he immediately pointed to Jordan Henderson and made sure everyone knew it was Henderson's goal.
Even when they put on a poor performance (which is starting to become rarer), they bounce back quickly and strongly. The lost 3-1 to Hull, was forgotten with four game winning streak, which ended with a loss to City, that Liverpool did not deserve. Another example was when Liverpool drew against Aston Villa at home, but did not lose confidence and swept aside Everton in their next match. After a poor performance in a 1-1 draw against West Brom back in January, they started off a winning streak that has not come to an end so far, with a 5-1 win over Arsenal, who were league leaders at the time. And finally, today, any talk of a nervousness about Liverpool was quelled when Liverpool dominated Spurs from the first whistle of the game to the last, even after Spurs had a very attack-minded line-up going into the match.
Liverpool, like they have so many times at Anfield this season, got off to the perfect start. But Liverpool's goal, early as it was, was somewhat deserved. Liverpool held the ball, and passed until they found their opening through Johnson making an excellent overlapping run and making a low cross which was turned into Loris's net. This match had started right where the last match, all the way back in December, had left off. I certainly had a hard time distinguishing between the two matches. Liverpool held the ball, and did not allow Spurs much time on the ball, and after another error from the Spurs defense, Suarez made it two with an excellent finish. The third showed how adaptable Liverpool are. Spurs tried a different strategy in the second half by pressing high, but a brilliant turn from Jon Flanagan, and Spurs were exposed on the counter attack. Coutinho even had loads of time to make a choice of what to do with the ball, and he finished with a great strike from outside the box. And the fourth summed up Liverpool's dominance, and was the icing on the cake.
Liverpool knew about all of the rest of the top four dropping points. They knew this was their chance and they took it. Now the race is heating up. Arsenal seemed to have dropped out, but never underestimate them. If they started off the season strong, than they can end it strong. However, Liverpool know that destiny is in their own hands. Beat City and Chelsea, and the title is theirs. Of course, they shouldn't let their guard down against the lower teams, and if they don't they will likely be receiving three points from those matches. I have said it before, this is a team who wants to win, and a team who simply wants to do the best that they can. If they can keep that mentality for the rest of the season, then maybe, just maybe, the title awaits.
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