Liverpool’s season is now all about holding their nerve and finishing in the top four. There has been solid progress — they are already six points better off than in the whole of last season and have scored six more goals.

Yet Jürgen Klopp, the manager, will recognise they are also a team ripe for further improvement. These are the five key areas where his focus will fall.

Liverpool are tracking Naby Keïta, the Red Bull Leipzig midfielder JENS MEYER/AP

Injuries

For all that Raymond Verheijen, the outspoken Dutch fitness coach, loves to insist Klopp’s demand for high intensity football is linked to injury, there is evidence enough to suggest they have just been unlucky this season. Philippe Coutinho damaged his ankle against Sunderland in a tackle, Sadio Mané’s knee buckled in a challenge against Everton’s Leighton