5 unlikely players driving Liverpool's top four challenge in 2017

Liverpool had a terrific start to the 2016/17 Premier League season and were tipped to be title contenders until late 2016. However, 2017 proved to be entirely different as Liverpool not only crashed out of the title race, but also exited the EFL Cup and FA Cup.

Suddenly, the Reds were out of all three competitions and it looked like Liverpool would not make it to the top 4. The absence of Sadio Mane due to his participation with Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations and the failure of strikers Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge during his absence were two of the main reasons the Reds failed to win games regularly.

On the other hand, a lack of confidence for Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius, and players not stepping up led to bad losses and this drastically hurt Liverpool’s morale. Jurgen Klopp though constantly worked on the defensive aspects and spoke about how the team was learning to react mentally since those losses.

The team once again suffered setbacks with captain Jordan Henderson getting injured in February, Adam Lallana picking up a thigh injury on international duty with England at the end of March and Mane suffering a knee injury in the Merseyside Derby against Everton.

Once again there was tension at the club and in the supporters’ minds, as a top four finish was crucial in terms of playing in the Champions League, its monetary benefits and thereby the chance to buy higher quality players. However, this time the crisis call was answered, and spectacularly, by the Reds.

While Philippe Coutinho finding form or Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren forming a solid defensive pairing are natural expectations than exceptions, a few players who might not have been expected to step up and sustain Liverpool’s top four challenge, are doing exactly that.

So, here are those 5 unlikely players driving Liverpool’s Champions League dreams in 2017.

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#5 Roberto Firmino

Roberto Firmino celebrating his goal against West Brom

While a case can be made for how Firmino is not an unlikely player, in reality, he still remains an underrated player in the league. Coutinho is on the radar of top European clubs including Barcelona and recently became the top-scoring Brazilian in the PL. However, since the start of last season, Firmino has been involved in 34 PL goals, which is more than any other Reds player. Yet, he continues to play second-fiddle to Coutinho.

One of the reasons is the dip in his output compared to last season. In the 2015/16 league season, Firmino scored 10 goals and assisted seven more in 27 appearances which included seven substitute appearances.

This season he has played 30 games with just one appearance as a substitute till gameweek 33 and has bagged 10 goals and seven assists. Although his off-the-ball defensive work and intelligence were on display, the goals were lacking as 2017 turned up.

The injury to Sadio Mane, however, seemed to spur him on as he outshone Coutinho in the last two games, and scored his first two match-winning goals for Jurgen Klopp in the league. The winner against Stoke was a world-class goal, while against West Brom, he scored a header off a set-piece outmuscling Stoke’s bigger and stronger defenders. This output to go along with his defensive work really helped Liverpool pick up valuable points in two tough away games.

#4 Divock Origi

Divock Origi (right) is leading the line admirably for Jurgen Klopp’s side

One of the reasons Liverpool struggled in Mane’s absence in January was that Origi and Sturridge lost form and it hurt the team. This time around, Origi has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He scored after coming on for the Senegalese against Everton to put the match beyond their reach and then scored again in the match against Bournemouth.

In the next two away wins at Stoke and West Brom, Origi put in superb shifts in attack by linking up play, always providing an outlet and not getting bullied by the opposition defence. This was the form the Belgian was in last season when he led the line ahead of Sturridge. His form and goals have helped Liverpool deal with Mane’s loss effectively this time around and the results are there for all to see.

In putting up his hand when needed, Origi has shown he is ready to lead the Liverpool front line in the coming years and if this form continues, he might very well be the first-choice striker at the start of next season.

#3 Lucas Leiva

Lucas Leiva (right) is using all his experience in guiding Liverpool to a top four finish

Lucas Leiva is a player who has managed to survive despite managerial changes and transfer of other players. The fact that he is no longer the same player of six years ago means fans want to see him leave, although his commitment to the club is unquestionable. Even in January, despite having offers from various clubs including Inter Milan, he stayed back because Klopp wanted him as a backup.

When Adam Lallana got injured in the international break last month, Lucas was called into the side and he has started in all three games since then. The Brazilian was outstanding against the pace and power of Everton and the physical threat of Stoke and West Brom in spite of not being too tall or strong. His experience of a decade at the club is serving him well as he is putting in a shift every game and has a Whoscored.com average of 8 for the last three.

Further, he has picked up two assists as well in the last three games, which is more than the number of assists he had over the previous four seasons. So, not only is Lucas sitting in front of the defence, breaking up play and winning duels, but he is creating goals at the other end as well.

Lucas is delivering when the manager needs it the most in what could be his last season at the club. But then, with the Brazilian, you never know as he can very easily continue as an experienced backup for a couple more seasons.

#2 Simon Mignolet

Simon Mignolet has been solid since January and outstanding in the last two games

The Belgian goalkeeper looked set to depart in the coming summer with this season’s signing Loris Karius expected to take over as the new no. 1 However, neither could hold on to a first-team spot and Jurgen Klopp kept switching between them. Mignolet was reinstated in goal in December and has kept his position in the league matches.

After a typical set of performances – where he is impossible to beat one day and then concedes soft goals the next – Mignolet has finally started to show improvement in recent weeks.

The former Sunderland keeper has made 11 errors leading to a goal since joining Liverpool in 2013, more than any other keeper of the current top six teams in the league. However, this has changed as Mignolet is starting to look like the real deal.

His outstanding reflexes were the reason the Reds bought him in the first place and evidence of that was on display against Stoke. It is, however, the other aspects of his game that have lifted Liverpool in the past few weeks.

Mignolet now commands the box with more authority, is quicker coming off the line – as seen against Matt Phillips in the West Brom game – and is finally dealing with corners and crosses with a never-seen-before confidence.

Even more importantly, he has made crucial saves to preserve a lead and help clinch three points which are signs of him stepping up and finally maturing as a keeper.

#1 Emre Can

Emre Can (right) has rediscovered his form of last season at the right time

Emre Can was a fan favourite last season as Liverpool embarked on a Europa League hunt. However, injuries affected him this season and Jordan Henderson adapted to the no. 6 role to great effect. As a result, Can had to play as a no. 8 whenever he was given a chance and he looked ill-fit for the role. An injury to Henderson in February gifted the German with an opportunity.

Speculations were rife about letting Can leave in the summer as he was rumoured to have declined a new contract with his current one expiring in 2018. His form, combined with his current situation, led to a notion that he was no longer an asset. However, the 23-year-old regained his form of last season soon after and has been nothing short of sensational in the last two months.

Can is now dictating games once again, using his strength, power and will to great effect while defending and constantly joining the attack at every opportunity. His winner against Burnley was a well-hit strike from outside the box which shows that the confidence is back in the German. Moreover, his work-rate is exemplary.

In fact, with Lallana’s injury, Can moved ahead to the no. 8 role and performed at a high level, showing what confidence can do to a player. When the team is down, it is important for characters like him to step up and lift the side. When motivation and performances come from unlikely sources, it changes the mood at the club and Can’s return to form is a much-needed boost for Jurgen Klopp and the Kop faithful.