Match Thread: Liverpool v Arsenal

[Gurthers]

Much better from Kerkez and Konate I thought. Not sure Bradley/Frimpong get that right back position back from Dom. He's class there!

Definitely things to work on, but did we see a few flashes of Wirtz quality starting to shine through in the 2nd half?

Arsenal really tough to play against and a clean sheet. Delighted with 3 points and some positives. Plenty to work on though. With any luck maybe some reinforcements before this time tomorrow.

[Crimson Dynasty]

We have been very average but top of the league….

Same as the start of last season when we kept nicking victories despiting playing like crap in most games and kept saying we'd eventually get found out,.... but by the time we were, we were too far out in front and virtually had the title wrapped up.

The real REAL test comes after the international break.

We were poor almost every single game coming back after international breaks last season and tasted our first defeat against Forest (and at Anfield) after the first break.

[Steveo]

Wirtz far better 2nd half.

Yes - he improved noticeably… I wonder what Slot said? - he put one on a plate for Mo too.

[Insidious]

Wow....still can't get over that free kick....get the fuark in!!!!!!

Takes ridiculous pressure off the fixture at their place.

At the start of the season my attitude is to match a rival for points - a draw apiece or a win apiece - and trust yourself to do better against "the rest" than they do.

Getting 3 of the 6 available points against Arsenal has bought us that little bit of wiggle-room. Happy days.

[justme]

having played Bournemouth. who have now gone onto win the last 2. showing they are an excellent team.,Newcastle away and Arsenal at home. and won all 3. I'd have bitten your hand off for that..

[Steveo]

Yep However - It’ll be no surprise for us to struggle in the easier games on paper though.

[Crimson Dynasty]

To quote (and paraphrase) the great Mike Tyson....

Arteta came to Anfield with a plan....
....until he got punched in the mouth by a Szobo cracker.

[Insidious]

Wirtz far better 2nd half.

Slot seems really taken with some of the tactics employed by PSG and the rotation in their midfield.

So often in that game (even Neville pointed it out) Wirtz ended up way deeper than his natural position, so he was passing it into positions where, at his former club, he'd have been receiving it.

Combine that with him probably hunting for the ball to impress (expensive players tend to feel they have a point to prove) and you end up seeing him in spots he "shouldn't" be a bit too often.

In the second half he got further up and found those pockets between the lines that he is excellent at finding.

Not a fast start for him but as he finds himself it isn't going to matter. I do hope a goal or assist is around the corner just for the sake of confidence - his talent and footballing intelligence aren't in question.

[miller0863]

Not seen it yet as I was driving up to Scotland.

But a couple of points.

We aren’t playing with a wide midfielder behind Salah and he is getting fewer touches in the games than ever.
Our midfield is a man light so we’re not winning the midfield battles.

Both points down to us shoehorning in our £100m signing who … let’s face it has hardly hit the ground running.

Really do not get this change of formation, we’ve nullified our most productive attacker and are making far fewer attempts on the opposition goal than last season.

I wonder how long Arne will persist with this new lineup and formation.
He would say 3 games and 3 wins but to be honest we haven’t looked good in any of the 3 games. It took a wonder strike from Dom today and a last minute winner from our 16 year old wonder kid last time.

We’re not dominating or controlling games at all, that’s the concern from me, ecstatic as I am to have 9 points out of 9.

It won’t last playing as we are, at least we managed our first clean sheet today which is progress

[LFC-DPG]

Hmm, Mo had some good opportunities today but just either held on too long before taking the shot or his cross / pass didn’t work out for him.

I’m not sure I put his lack of involvement down to including Wirtz.

[miller0863]

Ok well as I said not seen today’s game but Salah is getting far fewer touches this season so far than previously

[Steveo]

Mo is a worry. I was all for signing him up - his goal scoring has been ridiculously consistent and along with Virgil the bedrock of the team for years. Right now so far this season he has looked invisible - easy to mark - easy to block and largely ineffective.

Not sure if the Jota tragedy has damaged his mental state or what it is. But you don’t go from being a Rolls Royce to a Trebant in a few months….. Do you?

[sydenham red]

We may well have win and look better against lesser teams even with this new formation but ld personally back to 4 3 3 and drop mo. He can come on as an impact sub until/unless he shows unstoppable form.

[Steveo]

Ok well as I said not seen today’s game but Salah is getting far fewer touches this season so far than previously

I am one of his biggest fans - and he was a passenger

[miller0863]

The Jota point is well made, he does seem to have been more affected than others.