Whereas Liverpool weren’t at their greatest in opposition to Arsenal, they nonetheless got here away with some extent from one among their hardest fixtures of the season.
For 45 minutes, Arsenal bought the higher of Liverpool and cracks have been starting to indicate in Arne Slot‘s aspect.
Fortunately, the Reds turned issues round, twice actually, and can really feel annoyed 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 sport through which you will have let in two targets, there can be a defensive inquest as to what went unsuitable.
Properly, excluding Bukayo Saka’s opener, Liverpool remained fairly stable all through the match, conceding simply two massive possibilities in accordance with FotMob.
Liverpool saved 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 discuss Liverpool’s defence with out singing the praises of Konate who marshalled his aspect of the backline with authority on Sunday.
Gabriel Martinelli wrongly thought that he may exploit Liverpool’s proper aspect, however Trent Alexander-Arnold and Konate made certain he hardly ever beat his man and was dispossessed 3 times.
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 pressured 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 components and loads of faults in his sport, his largest of the latter arguably being his frequent lack of composure in entrance of purpose.
In opposition to Arsenal, nevertheless, 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 yr earlier than would have maybe blasted the possibility at purpose.
As a substitute, he discovered Salah in what has grow to be Liverpool’s most prolific mixture in entrance of purpose.
The Uruguayan and the Egyptian have assisted each other 15 instances, putting 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 in opposition to Saka.
The Scotland captain will go down as one among Liverpool’s greatest-ever full-backs, however he does now look to have dropped off, even when he’s nonetheless a stable possibility for Slot.
Whereas Virgil van Dijk ought to definitely have helped extra, Robertson was clearly essentially 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 area 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 workforce have been surprisingly destructive of their strategy as soon as they have been 2-1 up. Whereas their model of play was maybe to their detriment in finally 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 truly 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 beneath strain in their very own space.
If Liverpool had sufficient of a ruthless streak, they might have saved 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.
