Brendan Rodgers expects the imminent return of "reference point" Daniel Sturridge to help Liverpool push for a top-four place.
Saturday's home game against West Ham is the latest target for Sturridge, who returned to full training earlier in January after five months out with a thigh injury.
And Rodgers reckons the England striker could complete a side which has been rapidly returning to form under a new system following an indifferent autumn.
Liverpool go into the West Ham game unbeaten in six league games, and even their performance in Capital One Cup defeat to Chelsea earned widespread positive reviews.
Rodgers said: "It's had a huge impact on our season, Daniel being out. You can trace it back to the beginning of the season when we played one of our early games against Tottenham (Liverpool won 3-0 at White Hart Lane in August).
"You could see what a reference he was for the team. From that point he hasn't played, and the team struggled for a few months. The last number of months we've nailed down a way of working. Put Daniel into that and he shines a different light onto the team again.
"He's looked very, very good in training and we'll see how he is on Friday, but certainly at this moment he looks in top-class condition."
Raheem Sterling has been starting in a more central attacking role recently in Sturridge's absence and, according to Rodgers, there have been no hitches in ongoing contract talks with the 20-year-old.
"I think it's all in hand with the football club and his representatives," the manager said. "Raheem's very happy here - as I've said he's a young player at one of the greatest clubs in the world and playing very, very well.
"He sees his long-term future here - he's very happy with his progress and how he's developing, and he's a real sponge for learning. He knows he's in the right place to develop and be looked after, and I'm sure it'll be sorted very soon."
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