Whereas Liverpool weren’t at their greatest towards Arsenal, they nonetheless got here away with some extent from considered one of their hardest fixtures of the season.
For 45 minutes, Arsenal obtained the higher of Liverpool and cracks had been starting to point out in Arne Slot‘s facet.
Fortunately, the Reds turned issues round, twice in reality, and can really feel pissed off to not have pushed on to win the sport after Mo Salah levelled Liverpool for the second time.
After 90 minutes of thrilling soccer for the impartial, Slot had a lot to consider together with his tactical strategy, Andy Robertson‘s efficiency and the resilience his gamers confirmed.
3 good…
Regardless of conceding twice, Caoimhin Kelleher was comparatively untroubled in purpose.
Usually after a recreation by which you’ve got let in two objectives, there could be a defensive inquest as to what went mistaken.
Properly, except Bukayo Saka’s opener, Liverpool remained fairly strong all through the match, conceding simply two massive possibilities based on FotMob.
Liverpool stored Arsenal to an xG of simply 0.92 and three photographs on course throughout the 90 minutes.
Ibrahima Konate was the standout in that defensive show.
We are able to’t speak about Liverpool’s defence with out singing the praises of Konate who marshalled his facet of the backline with authority on Sunday.
Gabriel Martinelli wrongly thought that he may exploit Liverpool’s proper facet, however Trent Alexander-Arnold and Konate made positive he not often beat his man and was dispossessed thrice.
Liverpool’s French centre-half made seven clearances, six recoveries and was dribbled previous simply as soon as.
As soon as Konate had handled Martinelli as soon as and let him know, it compelled the winger to rethink his strategy and he was then extra reserved in his attacking play within the second half.
Darwin Nunez‘s link-up with Salah was good to see.
Nunez has loads of good elements and loads of faults in his recreation, his greatest of the latter arguably being his frequent lack of composure in entrance of purpose.
In opposition to Arsenal, nonetheless, he bucked the final development of the final couple of years to set Salah up completely for Liverpool’s second.
Many have made the purpose that the Nunez of final season or the 12 months earlier than would have maybe blasted the prospect at purpose.
As a substitute, he discovered Salah in what has turn out to be Liverpool’s most prolific mixture in entrance of purpose.
The Uruguayan and the Egyptian have assisted each other 15 instances, inserting them within the prime 10 by any pair of gamers for Liverpool within the Premier League period throughout all competitions.
3 dangerous…
Robertson was left uncovered towards Saka.
The Scotland captain will go down as considered one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever full-backs, however he does now look to have dropped off, even when he’s nonetheless a strong choice for Slot.
Whereas Virgil van Dijk ought to actually have helped extra, Robertson was clearly probably the most culpable participant for Saka’s purpose, for which the teenager beat our left-back for tempo and lower inside sharply to search out house to complete.
In equity to Robertson, he recovered all through the sport and Kostas Tsimikas, who has been receiving reward for his substitute look, he was going through a extra fatigued assault.
Throughout the match, Robertson gained half of his six duels, was dribbled previous twice and accomplished 16 of his 22 passes.
Arsenal pursued the ‘darkish arts’ and it labored to frustrate Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta’s staff had been surprisingly detrimental of their strategy as soon as they had been 2-1 up. Whereas their type of play was maybe to their detriment in in the end failing to win, they nonetheless succeeded in irritating Liverpool.
At one level, Slot was even booked for voicing his frustration, although the coach claimed this was a mistake as he was really complaining about their time-wasting to Konate, not the fourth official!
There was one level when Jurrien Timber went down and an Arsenal participant kicked the ball out whereas underneath strain in their very own space.
If Liverpool had sufficient of a ruthless streak, they’d have stored the ball from the throw-in. Konate, although, determined to truthfully return the ball to the opposition.
Arteta’s strategy, although, is way extra Jose Mourinho-like than Pep Guardiola.
