Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana feels the team may have finally turned a corner after knitting together a cohesive performance which produced goals.
The 4-1 home win over Swansea was the first time since late March the side had scored that many in the league.
Goals, over 100 of them, were what the Reds built their title challenge on last season but their strength up front disappeared with the sale of Luis Suarez and loss of Daniel Sturridge to injury.
However, they are approaching the time when, 12 months ago, they went on an incredible run which saw them almost pip Manchester City for the Premier League crown and with Sturridge to return in the next few weeks optimism is beginning to grow again.
"The last two or three weeks we really feel as if we have turned a corner,'' said Lallana. "We've been picking up results and playing better -- that was missing for the first three months of the season.
"Against Arsenal we felt hard done by to only get a point (they dominated the game but drew 2-2), we put in a gritty performance against Burnley (to win 1-0) and it was important we got the win against Swansea.
"We knew the Christmas period was a great chance for us to pick up maximum points and slide up the table and we are looking for more of the same against Leicester on Thursday.''
Lallana produced arguably his best performance in a Liverpool shirt since his 25 million pound summer move from Southampton with two goals against Swansea. He accepts he has had a tough time settling in, especially with a number of other new arrivals, but believes everyone is starting to find their feet.
"It's been difficult, we're not going to shy away from that, for one reason or another,'' he added. "The lads are slowly settling into the team and Emre Can (playing as the third centre-back) was brilliant.
"I thought Alberto Moreno and Javier Manquillo put in really disciplined performances. It's not easy for them coming from abroad, being young, not being able to speak the language, so I'm really happy for them as well as the team.''
Lallana was happy with his own performance, which was the first time since March 2012 he has scored twice -- those goals coming against Barnsley in the Championship.
His first may have had a touch of good fortune when goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski's clearance rebounded off him but the second involved some nifty footwork and a clinical finish.
"It was nice. The first one people can say it was lucky but if you don't close down the keeper then you don't get the goal,'' he added. "I've played lot of my football in a central role and I feel more relaxed and comfortable there with a bit more of a free role.''