Keeping clean sheets towards the beginning of the season was something Liverpool struggled with but made up for with emphatic attacking performances.
A dip in the team’s goal-scoring form across January, though, meant defensive errors would come back to hurt Jurgen Klopp’s men.
For Jordan Henderson, stopping Tottenham from scoring during Saturday’s 2-0 win was just as good as Sadio Mane’s two first half goals.
The skipper told Liverpoolfc.com: “It was definitely positive. The most pleasing thing was in the second half we were solid, focused, took the sting out of the game and did a lot of good things without the ball.”
“Overall I felt we defended well as a team and attacked well as a team.”
“We have fantastic quality in the team, great mentality and great character, but it is no good me just saying that. It is up to us to show that from now until the end of the season and keep putting in performances like that.”
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A central defensive partnership of Joel Matip and Lucas Leiva reduced Spurs striker Harry Kane to just two touches in the Liverpool box.
Elsewhere on the pitch, the midfielder trio of Georginio Wijnaldum, Adam Lallana and Henderson himself out-manoeuvred and dominated the might of Victor Wanyama and Moussa Dembele as well as the craft of Dele Alli.
It was the kind of spirited and confident defensive display we have lacked in recent weeks and one that has to be carried into the rest of the season.
Saturday was the first time in a while we have looked assured in defence and as though we had left the opposition out of ideas. Long may that continue.