Liverpool’s journey towards the end of the campaign feels very much like a crawl now. Slow, lethargic, at times pained. But could Rio Ngumoha offer the timely spark?

Liverpool’s first-half performance against Nottingham Forest on Sunday was like pulling teeth. A difficult, laboured process that nobody wished to be part of.

The final whistle signalled a smash-and-grab three points result, but this wasn’t a wily scalp pulled off by a team who knows how to win.

That was the Liverpool of last season, a side drunk on forward momentum and oozing a consistent blend of calm and chaos.

The Reds are simply getting through games now and the campaign has become one glorified mathematical equation – achieve the desired points total to secure Champions League football.

Ultimately, it’s the right approach, given the European and FA Cups are still to play for. Liverpool just need to keep tallying off the domestic games now and fashion out victories while working out exactly what sort of Premier League outfit they wish to be going forward.

But Sunday’s last-gasp win does, however, provide some points of concern.

Why did Liverpool lack energy against Nottingham Forest after a week...