After scoring against Manchester United and Wolves, the attacker now has two goals in two games after a poor start to the season in-and-out of the side.
Up until he hit the winner against Manchester United at Anfield, this season was unmistakably shaping up to be Kuyt’s worst season for Liverpool.
In previous years he had been a constant ray of light in an under-performing side, no matter which Liverpool turned up, Kuyt would be the outstanding player.
From the start of the season in Liverpool’s first game against Sunderland, Kuyt has never got going.
He has been a victim of Kenny Dalglish’s rotation policy, creating a vicious cycle as he could not get the consistency to string some form together.
Like all goalscorers the mantra ‘he needs a goal’ is correct.
Last season he scored 13 goals, but up until last weekend he had none.
It was around this time last year he really kicked on too, flourishing under Kenny Dalglish after a tough period under Roy Hodgson.
His highlight last season again came against Manchester United, with a famous ‘tap-in’ hattrick at Anfield as the side ran out 3-1 winners.
So it was inevitable that Kuyt bagged his first of the season against the same opponents last weekend.
Last night he sealed his return to form with his first Premier League goal in a comfortable win away to Wolves.
The goal last night was his 50th for the club, a milestone the Dutchman admitted was playing on his mind, wondering if it would ever come.
Don’t be surprised if Kuyt goes on a similar run to last year, now he has his confidence back he could still make double figures for the season.
There are positive signs for Liverpool suddenly after their horror show against Bolton a fortnight ago.
Kuyt is scoring, even the maligned Andy Carroll netted last night, Steven Gerrard is back playing and with Luis Suarez back soon, when they play at Old Trafford next weekend they will go there believing they can get a result.
Kuyt could well score in that one too, and by the end of the month he could also have a Carling Cup medal to add to his personal trophy cabinet.
– The big question is, can Dalglish find a way to start Kuyt, Gerrard, Bellamy, Suarez and Carroll all at once? We doubt it, and this is why Kuyt needs to keep scoring to be assured of his place in the side.
image: © k1ngk0ng
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