As Lock prepares to return to lockdown, there is at least one element in those days that is definitely familiar to Liverpool.
For three long months, between March and June, the Reds stood in suspension, at the top of English football, 25 points clear and unclear about whether they would get a chance to complete the job.
And with the country unfortunately stabilizing itself once again to induce COVID-19 world sanctions, Liverpool will at least once again make it to the top of this table.
For now, anyway.
Events at St James’ Park – where Everton will be visiting on Sunday afternoon – will determine whether Liverpool stay there in time for next week’s showdown in Manchester City, but are welcome to see Jurgen Klopp’s men at the forefront once again.
But if too much uncertainty continues to grip the wider world, the Reds are as regular as the clock in Efield. The second win here takes them to an unbeaten 63 in the Premier League, which is April 2017.
He sees them established by records next to Bob Paisley in the late 1970s. This type of Liverpool is now being compared in the long run.
David Moyes has visited the venue with 16 different teams and has yet to win. This latest defeat, coming low on Halloween, boosts Anfield’s reputation as the home of the former horrors of Everton and Manchester United bosses.
The club made a total of six changes to the side of the Champions League on Tuesday, beating FC Midtjilland to beat Phillips, who advanced to the Premier League.
The center-back’s only other Liverpool appearance was when he flew for a FA Cup-winning game over Efferton in mid-January, finishing with a loan spell, with Stuttgart in the Bundesliga II.
At 23, Phillips is no puppy, but it was a huge step for a player who only played second division football in Germany last term. He was given the opportunity to show everyone that Liverpool’s center-back grief has been seriously aggravated.
He was the one he took with an outstanding performance that was released in strength and peace. Problems behind the center? Not if this becomes a regular output of Bolton-born Phillips.
Initially a header over the 40m target man Sebastian Heller, when he cleared any pre-match nerves with a defensive commanding piece, he was met with huge applause from everyone in the Liverpool jacket.
The visitors had the lead when the leadpool failed to deal with the cross from the right. Half of Gomez’s approval went to Pablo Fornales, who would be disappointed to be beaten by Alison Baker, who was on the side of the house for a goal.
The Reds were suppressed and Mohamed Salah put a little indent on Hammers defense before being kicked by Arthur Masuaku in the area until the end of the first half.
The Egyptian star has made a splash and has already belted him in the middle for his eighth campaign. The decision may have been filed under the ‘soft’ category, but although luck has often decimated the Reds too late, Klopp will apologize a bit.
As Liverpool struggled to make anything of note in the second half, Klopp reached out to Diego Jota and Zerdan Shakiri on Tuesday evening from two brilliant sparks from the Reds.
He was an inspiring part of the Liverpool boss’s management as he connected for a crucial second that would take the Reds above their local rivals.
Before Jota could celebrate his fourth Liverpool goal, however, he had already knocked him out when he thought he would win the home attack 2-1. As the case goes next to Klopp these days, VARA intervened.
Referee Kevin Friend visited the Pitchside Monitor and assessed the Sado and Mani slides before deciding to be proud of goalkeepers Lukasz Fabinski and Angelo Ogbonna, and the goal of watching was not to be missed.
The champions, however – and perhaps this is the reason why they hold that degree – refused to give and accept their future. Instead, two fingers slipped up to the VAR technique and they made sure their next target was a perfect one.
Shakiri threaded a stunning pass to Jota, who didn’t need to move on before the winner left. It was a superb move by two players who injected significant quality into the already bursting frontline with him.
This is the current carnation of Liverpool, they have been a well-equipped squad for decades.
Klopp has options in its selection in virtually all areas. Despite being in the same position as the center-back right now, Phillips could come and catch virtually everyone’s eye.
The approach to ending it clearly includes the dangerous angle in the ending phase. That Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip and Fabinoho can expect further klop calls going forward as they continue to nurse their respective injuries.
With Manchester City ahead for the Reds, Phillips ’announcement was timely. The biggest test of his career will now definitely await at Etihad next week.
Strength in depth – something that is not always clear at Anfield and will put Liverpool in a good position as soon as the winter months draw.
Now more than ever, Klopp says the “most challenging” of his career, everyone will need.