Liverpool vs Arsenal Match Review
It is the first full game I’ve been able to watch this season, and for large parts it was quite dull. Both teams were very tetchy first half, and both seemed happy with not conceding rather than really trying to score. Second half continued that theme until a few substitutes turned the momentum in our favor. It won’t go down as a classic by any means, but another tough 3 points earned – god help us when we do start playing well!
Arsenal
A wealth of talent, but a manager who seems incapable of using it to its full effect. The midfield selection was designed to stop Liverpool creating, and it worked for much of the game. However, they sacrificed their own creativity to do so and, unlike Slot, Arteta didn’t have the wherewithal to make meaningful changes to affect the game, despite a wealth of options to choose from off the bench. It’s almost a cliche at this point but Arsenal’s tactic seemed to boil down to frustrate Liverpool, and maybe nick something from a set piece – you would hope for, and expect a bit more, from such an expensively assembled team. Liverpool hadn’t been great coming into this game, and looked defensively fragile – it was a chance for Arsenal, but they lacked the courage to really try and utilize it.
The diving and dark arts from Arsenal really were pathetic as well. The amount of throwing themselves to the floor, shouting at officials, wasting time, looking for the very cheapest of penalties, etc etc is very unbecoming of a club with such a plethora talent, and a recent history of being a team that is pleasing on the eye – not any more it seems!
Liverpool
An improvement on the first two games, this was a chess match at times, and Slot has shown again who the grandmaster is. His biggest strength seems to be his ability to recognize flaws in his system, and/ or players not fitting into the system, and changing things in order to improve the overall performance. Macallister going off was the turning point: until then we were still slow in midfield, and couldn’t get the attacking transitions working despite pressing with more aggression and success – Slot getting Van Dijk to press high, for example, really aided with turnovers. Jones came on and his mobility and sharp passing brought others into the game, and the tide started to turn. It still required magic from the absolute top drawer from Szobozlai, but only one team looked to really be trying to earn a win, and overall I think it was deserved. Arsenal barely threatened a shot on target, all set pieces were repelled, and they were reduced to diving for penalties that even David Coote would struggle to give.
Player ratings
Alisson – 7 – few odd moments but dealt with everything more or less without fuss. Rock solid.
Kerkez – 8 – he was excellent, completely dominated his side of the pitch, and was closing down crosses with high intensity all game long.
Szobozlai – 10 – Man of the Match. He would’ve been motm even without the worldie, he was everything you could want in a fullback. Won the ball constantly, excellent distribution, nonstop energy. He has started this season superbly.
Van Dijk – 7 – finally a performance to remind us he is top class. Marshalled the defence well, won countless headers, and his pressing 2nd half helped us build attacking momentum.
Konate – 8 – actually played better than Van Dijk in my opinion, won everything in the air, gave Gyokeres no room to breathe, and avoided anything resembling a mistake. Of course after a solid game he went off injured, such is the Konate paradox.
Gravenberch – 6 – struggled to impose himself at times, Arsenal’s midfield overran him and Macallister, and he wasn’t afforded the time or space to really cause them trouble. Decent, but restricted.
Macallister – 5 – that’s a generous 5 too. Looked way off the pace, could not get near the ball, passing was off, and we looked way better once he was off the pitch. Should not play if, seemingly, not fully fit.
Wirtz – 6 – for 60 minutes the game seemed to pass him by. His distribution was careless, he couldn’t find space, and the intensity of the game seemed to get to him. Once the midfield was changed around he came into it more, had more space, and created more. I expect him to improve considerably as he adapts to the pace of the league.
Gakpo – 6 – worked hard, looked the most likely to find a break through, but did not create an awful lot and was stifled for large parts. Never let his head drop though, and kept Arsenal defenders honest.
Salah – 5 – poorest game I’ve seen from him for a long time. His first touch cost him upwards of 5 good opportunities, and it just did not happen for him from first minute to last. Someone made the point that he shouldn’t be undroppable when he plays like that, and I think when Frimpong is fit he won’t be.
Ekitike – 6 – worked very hard, tried to make things happen, was afforded very little space. Kept up his energy and intensity despite having very little to work with.
Subs:
Jones – 8 – his mobility changed the game, he was everywhere and, most importantly, his passing was on point. He opened Arsenal up and contributed significantly to the shift in tone of the game, excellent substitute appearance.
Gomez – 7 – I lost count of how many headers he won near the end, but he was great. I think his injuries have made it easy to forget how good a player he is when fully fit. If he can stay fit, a very big if, he may well be first choice partner to Van Dijk.
Chiesa – 6 – worked hard but didn’t have a lot of joy in the middle. Liked how at the end of the game he didn’t pass to Salah, but continued his run and shot, earning a corner. Could be a useful squad player for us.
Endo – 6 – didn’t do much, but that yellow he took at the end was smart, and helped us see out the game. Smart, consistent operators like him will prove their worth over the course of a season.
Slot – 8 – time and again he proves his ability to interpret the action on field, and make meaningful changes to impact it. The momentum swung with the substitutions and the more aggressive press, and Slot’s courage to not rest on his laurels, helped Liverpool to what I think was a deserved win.
Conclusions
They say you have to grind out wins at times. it feels like that’s all we do! Team has the mentality, undoubtedly, but I wouldn’t mind a few more comfortable games between now and the end of the season. Arsenal have spent a ton, but still look poor if Odegaard or Saka don’t play, and that’s a damning statement of Arteta’s inability to get a team full of talent playing to the level they should be at. Despite the tight scoreline I thought we played well, created more, and that our players stood up to the demands of the game better than Arsenals. With such fine margins gritty mentality and proactive manager decisions can and do make the difference. Loved how in his post match interview Slot mentioned we won the first 3 games last season only to then lose to Forest in our next game – some mentality that.