At the start of Sunday’s game, Liverpool was already two goals down to Arsenal. They figured they may as well take a risk since losing is already guaranteed. An example of this risk-taking was using Trent Alexander-Arnold in an unusual position as a full-back in the middle of the field – it didn’t work out this time but Liverpool has nothing to lose so they can keep giving it a try!
The Reds managed to draw against the top team of the Premier League but this did not really help with the overall bad season they have been experiencing. The team is still in 8th place, haven’t won any trophies, and it looks like it will be hard for them to make it into the Champions League.
The team looks exhausted and drained, but they’ve still been great when playing against the best teams. Last week’s 4-1 loss to Manchester City was an outlier – in most big games, they have put their all into it and done well.
At the game against Arsenal, Liverpool was hesitant in the beginning but the energy of their crowd changed that. After a clash between Granit Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah scored to put them back in it. They had a chance to win the game based on how they played in the second half.
Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold had a hard time in the first half because Arsenal was playing better than his team. We don’t know if the coaches planned for him to play this way before the game or came up with the idea just recently. Regardless, it wasn’t the best for Trent.
If you want someone to play a different position, they need to be familiar with the role and know how to do it. It can be tricky even for someone smart like Trent – he played in midfields during his youth team but that’s way different from playing at Premier League levels.
Liverpool’s right-back, Alexander-Arnold, was given a difficult task. He had to beat the player from Arsenal called Oleksandr Zinchenko while playing against them—a team who already know how to stop players like Zinchenko. By beating him, he managed to set up Liverpool’s equaliser.
Alexander-Arnold improved in the second half of the game where Liverpool had more opportunities with the ball but, at first, he struggled to fulfill his defensive role when he was asked to move to full back. The issue wasn’t entirely his fault though as everyone else needs to be on the same page in order for this formation to work effectively.
Your defenders sometimes need to move away from their usual positions to keep everything safe, which causes gaps between them and makes it easier for the other team’s players to run in. In order to prevent that, you either need midfielders who follow them closely or really smart defenders who know what is going on at all times. You also need a left-back who blocks any open areas. It might be hard to make this work without practice.
A lot of Liverpool fans wanted to see Alexander-Arnold play in the middle of the field and have the chance to show off what he can do. But something unexpected happened when he made an assist for a goal in a spot that isn’t his usual place.
I think that the best work from this player will be done when he is positioned wide, standing up to get the ball. But he showed good passing skills while playing a more central role against Arsenal. It will be interesting to watch how Klopp uses him next time.
If his position is reversed, then we’ll have to see if he has enough energy to press down people in midfield and follow runners.
Liverpool is Missing Sadio Mane but Hopeful for Luis Diaz’s Return
Liverpool played much better in the second half, and it seemed they would score again when Roberto Firmino entered the game with only 12 minutes left. Mohamed Salah is feeling a bit unsettled right now, and he’s not playing at his usual super level. On the other hand, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo need some more time to adjust to soccer in England.
Nunez has had a very inconsistent season since joining last summer. He was great at making goals and giving chances, but recently he looks confused. We saw that in the second half when he tried and failed to score a goal.
The whole Liverpool team lack enthusiasm now, I think it’s because they don’t have Sadio Mane anymore who helped them win so much in the past years before leaving last summer.
Mane often tried to score the first point himself, but even if he didn’t manage it, he would take people on and try to create chances for others.
I don’t see Gakpo doing this in one-on-one situations, though he does link up very well with other players. The same goes for Nunez–he can threaten the goal by being anticipating what ahead, but isn’t so good at starting any play.
Arsenal had two players on Sunday, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, who could separate defenders and then use their special abilities. When Mo Salah plays his best, he can do the same. I am looking forward to when Luis Diaz comes back from injury as I believe he has the talent to do what Liverpool are currently missing.
Diaz has the special ability to go past defenders and beat them, so he really helps the team with their attack. Liverpool are hoping that he back in training as soon as possible. Stephen Warnock was talking about this to Chris Bevan from Sport News Center.
