Hope In Mazzy Star

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ Having twice reneged on my promise of last week not to watch Liverpool for the remainder of this season, it was pleasing for the fans to see a victory over Fulham this afternoon.

I confess to feeling pretty indifferent to it all. When Liverpool scored I didn't get excited. When they conceded, I didn't feel deflated. My attitude mirrored the team's performances of late - flat.

My abstinence didn't even last one match, having flailed at the first attempt, opting to watch the dispiriting midweek game against Atalanta. Willpower, like much else that comes with age, seems to wilt. Not that today's was a game I rushed home to see. I walked the dog for about two hours along the Boyne, thinking if I make it home on time I make it. And If I fall asleep don't wake me up,

Planted in front of the box with a glass of red wine - they don't deserve whiskey - I watched two stunning goals followed by a good one despite it being a close offside call. The 3-1 victory, on paper anyway, keeps Liverpool in the title race.

Not that I think they will do it. Since the terrible Quansah pass at Old Trafford, the team has been in freefall. Its midweek victory against Atalanta is best described as Pyrrhic. The stand out moment from open play in that clash was Salah missing the target when gifted an opportunity. A perennial problem with this Liverpool side. Superb chances followed by sloppy finishing.

Something underscored when Nunez came off the bench. He started as he meant to go on, blasting his shot into the side netting. A popular player, his conversion rate of around 20% of excellent goal scoring opportunities is simply not good enough. He repeated his side netting trick later in the game. A rough diamond who seems determined to evade all attempts to polish his performance.

When Fulham cancelled Trent Alexander Arnold's great free kick just on the stroke of half time, I sensed there would be a repeat of the collapse against Palace last week. In some ways I felt it would be a welcome end to the misery and would call time on conning the fans that they were still a serious title contender. Had they succumbed today I anticipated that Klopp might as well give the kids a run out for the rest of the season. While that will not happen because it is still theoretically possible for them to win the EPL, something is needed to combat the staleness that has set in.

There remains the possibility that both the Gunners and Manchester City will slip up, but the odds are against both of them doing it. But even if they do who would bet on Liverpool not folding against Wolves in the last game of the season and the final match under Klopp? Betting on them would be like putting money in a collection plate pushed under your nose by an evangelical preacher.

And Merseyside rivals Everton will not be in the mood to do the old enemy any favours in the upcoming midweek clash. How they would love to spoil the party and exercise bragging rights, claiming credit for denying Liverpool a title. Truth is the decline came well before the derby.

As soon as the game was over I listened to Mazzy Star. At least there is some Hope there.

⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.