What Jurgen Klopp said last week is easy to hear after eight famous days for Liverpool

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Liverpool fans may remember the eight days between April 16 and 24 as one of their best ever.

It all started at Wembley, of course, when they faced their biggest rivals on the Manchester City pitch of 2022. Having just scored the most breathless and high-quality 2-2 draw at the Etihad a week earlier, the pair renewed hostilities at the national stadium for a place in the FA Cup final.

A roaring first half from Jurgen Klopp’s side did damage to a startled and exhausting-looking City as a 3-0 lead was established. That blistering opening was enough to put them through, despite goals at each end of the second half from Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva.

It will host another domestic cup final with Chelsea on May 14, but while that would be the main event of the season for most teams for the Reds, it is currently an attractive subplot for the double pursuit of both the Champions League and Premier League.

If Pep Guardiola’s City represent Klopp’s Liverpool new-age foe, it was the return of the Premier League last week that resulted in some memorable triumphs over historic victories at Anfield.

Firstly, a performance against Manchester United that will remain in the memory for a long time to come. An inspired Thiago Alcantara shone in midfield as Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah rose up against a club that looks increasingly besieged by the day, it seems now.

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And finally, to wrap up a three-game run they’re sure to be talking about for years to come, especially as silverware follows, Sunday’s 240th Merseyside derby with Everton.

Perverted, this was certainly the hardest-fought of all three wins in those eight days when Frank Lampard’s men dug in, showed a character they’ve rarely owned this season and used every trick in the book to frustrate them. vaunted neighbors. It worked for an hour.

But in the end, the pressure told as a double sub from Klopp, involving the arrival of Diaz and Divock Origi, had the desired effect within two minutes.

It brought the Reds back within a point of leaders City in this battle of the monoliths at the top of the Premier League and keeps Klopp and co in the hunt for quadruple history.

“It’s going to be very interesting,” says Trent Alexander-Arnold. “We still have a lot to play for and we still have a hand in every trophy available, so it’s about making sure we keep pushing on all fronts.

“We definitely have the squad to do it. We just have to make sure we win as many games as possible and hopefully get our hands on a few more pieces of silverware.”

Speaking at his pre-derby press conference on Friday, Klopp went out of his way to point out that these kinds of achievements and performances should be cherished and celebrated when they arrive, whether or not they ultimately lead to tangible silverware for Liverpool.

“I enjoy the journey immensely and when you do that you have more good days than bad,” said the Reds boss, adding: “There may be a day we don’t win, I don’t know. But all the others days leading up to that day were really good and if you don’t appreciate them you’re making a mistake because your life will be less fun.”

It was a targeted message to everyone associated with the football club. Whatever happens from now on in the pursuit of the Premier League, the FA Cup or the Champions League, if days and weeks like these – when Liverpool take all their biggest rivals out of the sword – can’t be cherished well, there can be little else worth following this sport for.

And for those looking for positive omens, the last time Liverpool beat Everton and Manchester United, both at home and away in a Premier League season, was in the 2000/2001 season – when the Reds did a treble. Now they want to do it even better twenty years later.

“I think we are a good match to be able to” [win a couple more trophies]Added Alexander-Arnold in the club’s match day schedule. “I don’t think other than the Premier League there is no reason why we can’t win the other two.

“As far as the Premier League is concerned, we have to hope that a team takes some points from Manchester City while at the same time making sure we win all our games so that we are in a position to take advantage if that happens. All we can do is do it.” is win as many matches as possible.”

For now that is all Liverpool can continue to do, as Alexander-Arnold says, and as the last eight days have shown, they are doing quite well.