Performance chart: Liverpool are on track for top four finish

A chart from the Premier League's official website paints an encouraging picture for fans desperate to see Liverpool finish inside the top four.

It's safe to say that the 2022/23 season has not gone to plan for Liverpool but their 7-0 win over Manchester United has erased the bad vibes that followed the 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid.

In fact, the last time Liverpool played Manchester United - a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in August - they dropped to as low as 16th in the table.

Fast forward to March 2023 and Jurgen Klopp has just coached a perfect game over Erik Ten Hag's side, lifting them to fifth and within a win of leapfrogging Tottenham into the Champions League qualification places.

The below performance chart plots Liverpool's wins, draws and defeats and for the first time since the start of the season, the Reds have been on an upward trajectory for five games straight.

After a run of five back-to-back league clean sheets, Klopp has managed to stop the rot, and much like the 2-1 defeat to United in August was followed by a game against Bournemouth, Liverpool face Bournemouth in the Premier League next.

The Reds dismantled the promoted side 9-0 when they last met in the league and after putting seven past David De Gea, the Cherries are in serious danger of seeing their -27 goal difference deteriorate further.

With 13 games to go this season, Liverpool have fought hard to place themselves in an unlikely position to not just threaten the top four but to start putting pressure on Manchester United in third.

Despite United enjoying a far better season so far, they're just seven points above their north-west rivals and will need to start looking over their shoulder.

Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo are all in great form and will be crucial to the season ending on a positive note.