I'm an advocate for statistics. Some things that they show can be summarized simply. Liverpool have managed to get to a final. Liverpool have managed to put a run of wins together. Liverpool still have a chance of making the Champions League, and potentially have two alternate routes of getting there. This was all not true at this point last season. For that reason, yes, he has performed better than BR did in his later months, and for that reason, his in-statement as manager is justified.