Liverpool returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth that sees the Reds move within 3 victories of the Premier League title. However, it wasn’t always plain sailing for the Reds who had to come from behind against the struggling Cherries after finding themselves behind within 10 minutes.
While the Reds once again dominated possession (75%), Jurgen Klopp’s men still only created 6 shots on target against a side in the relegation zone with 9 games to go. For their part, Eddie Howe’s men looked up to the challenge and registered 4 shots on target themselves but ultimately Liverpool were the more ruthless side on the day.
Let’s take a look at who impressed for the Reds at Anfield.
Adrian – 6.5/10
After making a handling error in midweek to allow Willian to score, Adrian appeared determined to punch rather than catch everything that came his way on Saturday. For the most part this strategy worked for the Spaniard who could do nothing about Callum Wilson’s opener and battered away the rest of what the Cherries had to offer.
Like most of his teammates, Alexander-Arnold has endured a form slump in recent weeks and did not look near his menacing best marauding up and down the right-hand side. The Scouser’s delivery is just a little off at the moment with the right-back even relieved of corner duty halfway through this encounter due to a lack of quality into the box.
Joe Gomez – 6.5/10
Regardless of whether you think Wilson fouled Gomez in the buildup to the Cherries’ opener, the former Charlton man probably should have dealt with the situation more decisively. The English international did recover to win 4 headers and make 4 interceptions while completing 9 of his 15 attempted long passes.
Virgil van Dijk – 8.5/10
The Dutch captain was dominant in the air against Howe’s men winning 7 headers while also providing an assist with a relatively simple pass to the unmarked Sadio Mane. Van Dijk ended the night with 2 key passes, 1 shot on target and 92.4% passing accuracy in a performance that ensured the Reds returned to winning ways.
James Milner – 8/10
Liverpool’s vice-captain returned to the starting eleven with a typical James Milner performance – diligent, hard-working and fully committed to the cause. The crowning moment was of course the 34-year-old’s excellent goalline clearance from Ryan Fraser’s dink, though Milner also recorded 2 tackles and 3 blocks.
The former Arsenal man had a mixed night – Oxlade-Chamberlain always looked a threat to the Bournemouth defence but couldn’t get his end product right. The England international dragged 3 efforts wide from distance before but did register 1 key pass and 2 interceptions to round out an overall promising night.
Fabinho – 6.5/10
The Brazilian was not as influential on the ball as he usually is and recorded just 62 passes, albeit with an impressive completion rate of 91.9%. With Bournemouth usually looking to break quickly, Fabinho also had little to do defensively though did cover for Alexander-Arnold on a couple of occasions when the Scouser got caught up the field.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 7.5/10
This had all the hallmarks of a classic Gini Wijnaldum performance – the Dutchman was impossible to shake off the ball, defensively diligent and linked well with Milner and Mane on the left-hand side. Wijnaldum ended the night with 2 key passes, 93% passing accuracy, drew 2 fouls and made 1 tackle in a strong all-round performance.
Mohamed Salah – 8/10
Salah took his chance well to equalise with a low drive to the near post after Mane’s pass momentarily appeared to have wasted a golden chance for the Reds. The Egyptian also completed 4 dribbles and 3 key passes in a performance that showed he is getting close to returning to his best without being quite there yet.
On a night where two of the Liverpool front 3 seemed to emerge from their recent malaise, Firmino endured another frustrating night where nothing quite seemed to work. The Brazilian had just 44 touches, was dispossessed once and completed just 79.4% of his passes before being withdrawn in the closing stages.
Sadio Mane – 8.5/10 (Man of the Match)
The Senegalese winger ended the night with a goal and an assist, even if the latter was rather fortuitous, and was a regular outlet for his side down the left-hand side. Mane recorded 2 key passes, 3 shots, 3 dribbles and drew 3 fouls while ultimately showing the composure to score the crucial winner for his side.
Adam Lallana – N/A
Replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain with less than 10 minutes to go and kept the ball neatly in the closing exchanges to help see out the win.
Divock Origi – N/A
The Belgian only touched the ball twice after replacing Firmino in stoppage time.
After 74 minutes at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Wednesday, James Milner was replaced by Trent Alexander-Arnold as Jurgen Klopp chased a winner. The substitution was a little unfair on the Yorkshireman who had been one of the Reds’ brighter players up until that point but Milner accepted his fate with his customary good grace.
While the former Manchester City man took his place on the bench to little fanfare from the locals, Liverpool’s vice-captain had just completed his 200th appearance for the club. That puts Milner third among the current Liverpool players, only behind Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson, and just outside the club’s top 100 all-time appearance makers.
Having joined the Reds on a free transfer in 2015 just months before Klopp’s arrival at Anfield, Milner is now just 3 appearances away from equaling his number of games for City. The Leeds United academy graduate has also made 54 appearances for his boyhood club and more than 100 for both Newcastle and Aston Villa in a glittering career.
Part of Milner’s longevity is that he is a consummate professional who still tops Liverpool’s fitness charts every season despite approaching his 34th birthday next month. It is a testament to the shape the Yorkshireman keeps himself in that the club extended his contract until 2022 last week at which point Milner will be 36 and likely still one of the fittest players at the club.
It is easy to see why Klopp was keen to keep his vice-captain around a little longer – not only is Milner a role model to any young players coming through at Anfield but he still has plenty to offer on the park. Even during periods when Milner has found starts difficult to come by at Anfield, his incredible versatility and consistency has seen him back in the team sooner rather than later.
Having broken through as a winger almost 2 decades ago as a 16-year-old at Leeds, Milner joined the Reds hoping for more minutes in his favoured central midfield position. However, over the four and a half seasons at the club, Liverpool’s number 7 has played at left-back, right-back, defensive midfield, both wings and well as his favoured central role without ever making a fuss.
After losing confidence in Spanish left-back Alberto Moreno at the start of the 2016/17 season, and will no other left-backs in the squad, Klopp turned to Milner as a makeshift for the rest of the season. Despite being left-footed and having never played the position before, Milner was a revelation and made 36 appearances in the league as the Reds qualified for their first Champions League campaign under Klopp.
Also a deadly penalty-taker, Milner has scored 25 goals for the Reds during his time at the club including 7 last season as the Reds came second in the Premier League and lifted the Champions League in Madrid. That was Milner’s first major European trophy (no disrespect to the Intertoto Cup he won at Newcastle) but while he won two league titles at City, another title this season with the Reds would cement his place in Liverpool folklore.
With just 2 Premier League games left this decade for the Reds, Milner could potentially end the 2010s with the most appearances in the competition of any player. Currently second with 305 Premier League appearances between 2010 and 2019, the good news for Milner is that he is just one appearance behind the current leader – the bad news is that that man is his teammate Henderson.
Given that Milner spent five successful seasons in Manchester, it is somewhat surprising that the Leeds-born midfielder isn’t held in higher regard at the Etihad Stadium. Perhaps the very qualities that have endeared Milner at Anfield, including his gritty work-rate and Twitter personality, did not impress a fanbase used to buying some of the flashiest talent in the world.
None of that will bother the Yorkshireman too much who has celebrated with gusto whenever he has managed to score against his former club and is likely be remembered more for his time on Merseyside than in Manchester. Much of that will depend on how much the Reds manage to win in the coming years but if one thing is certain it is that Milner’s professionalism and leadership will be key for Klopp if Liverpool are to convert their current form into further silverware.
The day after a bleak election result, Liverpool Football Club have moved swiftly to announced contract extensions for Jurgen Klopp and James Milner. The news comes at a welcome time for Liverpool fans who face the prospect of 5 more years of austerity and a Prime Minister who has regurgitated old lies about Hillsborough.
Klopp’s previous contract, signed in the summer of 2016, was due to keep the German at Anfield until 2022 but the former Borussia Dortmund manager has now committed to the club until at least 2024. Alongside Klopp, his long-time assistant Peter Krawietz, who has been with Klopp since his days with Mainz, and Pepijn Lijnders have also agreed new deals with the club for the same term.
If the German sees out this contract, his spell at Liverpool will have been the longest of his managerial career and he will become the club’s longest-serving manager since Bill Shankly. The news is particularly welcome as Klopp had previously intimated that he may leave the club at the end of his current contract.
Interestingly, in the statement from Liverpool’s owners, FSG, the American’s name check Sporting Director Michael Edwards for the work he does behind the scenes at the club. Edwards is in charge of transfers for the Reds and has impressed with his ability to get the job done quietly and efficiently – traits that seem to be valued by his boss as well as by Klopp.
Meanwhile, vice-captain James Milner has also put pen to paper on a new deal with the club with his current deal due to expire in the summer. The former Manchester City man now has his future secured beyond the summer and will continue to play an important role for Klopp both on and off the field.
While Brendan Rodgers’ Anfield return ultimately ended in defeat, his Leicester side ran Liverpool close, coming within a matter of minutes of stealing a point from the reigning European Champions. Despite having just two shots all night, the Foxes withstood the barrage Jurgen Klopp’s men threw at them and almost executed Rodger’s game plan to perfection.
However, the manner of Liverpool’s late victory and the way his side dominated Leicester for the majority of the game should satisfy Klopp who sees his side unbeaten and top of the division. With a number of star performers, a tactical tweak and more VAR controversy, here are 5 lessons learnt from Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at Anfield.
Sadio Mane is truly one of the best players in the world right now
There are times when it feels like Sadio Mane is the forgotten man for Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino more frequently taking the spotlight for the Reds. While I think that has largely changed in recent times, especially given Mane’s excellent form on the road to Madrid last season, it is still easy to overlook just how big a talent the Senegalese is.
On Saturday, Mane scored his 50th Premier League goal for the Reds in what was also his 100th Premier League appearance for the club. Remarkably, that record is matched by his 67 goals in 134 appearances for the club in all competitions and puts the Senegalese 35th on the list of the club’s all-time goal-scorers – level with Daniel Sturridge.
There used to be a time when a striker who scored one goal every two games was considered to be at an elite level, and wingers were expected to chip in every now and then. While football has changed fundamentally since then, with the role of the inverted winger created to bridge the gap between a conventional winger and a striker, a 50% goals to game strike rate is still incredible for a player who isn’t his team’s primary goal-scorer.
While Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have set frankly ridiculous standards for those who have come after them by regularly scoring better than one goal per game over a league season, they are not the benchmark for a player like Mane. Rather, the Senegalese is a more team-orientated player who is able to play as more of a conventional winger at times, tracking back to help his full-back.
This ability was particularly on display during the first half against the Foxes when Mane put in a string of impressive tackles on the edge of his own area to halt the forward runs of Ben Chilwell. When you consider the package that Mane brings as a whole, it is hard to argue against him being one of the best players around, with a work rate and all-round game that doesn’t take away from his ruthless goalscoring.
I am positive there will come a time in the future when Liverpool fans look back on the Klopp era as a golden age for the club and when that happens, I think history will be very fond of Mane. From Senegal to Liverpool via Metz, Salzburg and Southampton, in Mane, Liverpool have a very special player on their hands who deserves to be recognised as one of the best around.
Dejan Lovren gives Klopp welcome decision to make
I must admit, I was among those Liverpool fans who felt a little apprehensive when the Liverpool team sheet was released featuring Dejan Lovren alongside Virgil van Dijk at the back. However, with Joe Gomez struggling for form in the early stages of this season and the excellent Joel Matip unavailable for selection, the decision to field the Croat began to make a lot more sense.
After all, Lovren was van Dijk’s first regular centre-back partner after the Dutchman joined the club in January 2018, with the pair guiding their side to the Champions League final in Kyiv. That Lovren now finds himself 4th choice at Anfield is not so much the fault of the Croat, but rather injury and the form of those around him.
While Lovren may have been ill-advised to declare himself the best defenders in the world after guiding his side to the World Cup final in 2018, the derision he received for that comment disguises the fact that he has a point. At the time, the Croatian international had been a key part of teams that made both the Champions League and World Cup finals in quick succession and yet Lovren was still receiving widespread criticism.
However, after returning late to Liverpool duty after his World Cup heroics, Lovren came smashing back down to earth last season, making just 11 Premier League starts. With Gomez and then Matip favoured alongside van Dijk, it seemed like Lovren would leave during the summer just past, with a move to Roma eventually falling through.
The Reds will now be glad that Lovren stayed and at 30 years of age, there is no reason why the former Southampton man can’t perform for a couple more seasons. While it is unlikely that the Croat will permanently displace Matip based on one performance, the return of Lovren as a genuine selection for Klopp provides a welcome headache for the German.
On Saturday night, Lovren kept Jamie Vardy quiet, making 8 clearances, 5 aerial duels, 2 tackles and 2 interceptions in an excellent individual performance. That Klopp now has three genuine first-team options again to partner van Dijk, who didn’t have his best game against Leicester but brings out the best in those around him, is positive and all three will need to do their part this season.
James Milner has ice in his veins
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. And what a man James Milner is. Excellent all game, there was no one else you’d rather have step up and take a 95th-minute penalty and the Yorkshireman duly delivered.
After laying on the assist from Mane’s opener, Milner had been a key component of the Liverpool midfield who starve Leicester of possession and field position. While Leicester gained some control on the second-half, Milner’s presence also allows Andrew Robertson to get forward even more – the Scot was again excellent here.
Sending Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way, Milner then celebrated with his arms crossed like Kylian Mbappe, proving there is truly nothing the 33-year-old cannot do. With his contract set to expire next summer, Klopp got a timely reminder of Milner’s leadership and calmness under pressure that are key to keeping his squad on track.
Formation tweak up front demonstrates tactical variety
Apart from a brief period last season when Xherdan Shaqiri got a run in the side, it is fair to say then when you think of Liverpool’s front three it features Mane on the left, Salah on the right and Firmino through the middle. Don’t get me wrong, the trio do interchange over the course of 90 minutes, but before Saturday, this was the way they usually lined up.
It came as somewhat of a surprise then to see Salah start through the middle, with Mane switching to the right-wing and Firmino on the left against the Foxes. While all three can play those positions, the switch would have taken Rodgers by surprise and shows how fluid and flexible Liverpool’s attacking trident can be.
The idea seemed to be to use the pace of Salah to get in behind the Leicester defence, though Caglar Soyuncu was excellent in covering the Egyptian’s runs. However, the switch also saw Mane and particularly Firmino tucking in even more than usual to create extra space for Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold to raid into.
However, the main takeaway here is that depending on the opponents, Klopp has options to vary the way he sets his side up in order to give his side the best chance of winning and keep opposition managers guessing. Mane, Salah and Firmino will have even better days, but the fact that they can rotate and star at different times is a positive sign for the Reds.
VAR will never please everyone – that’s just football
It just wouldn’t be a weekend of Premier League football these days without a VAR controversy would it? In the aftermath of Milner’s match-winning penalty, fans of rival teams have taken to social media to complain about the application of the under-fire technology that deemed Marc Albrighton fouled Mane in the box.
For context, I personally think it was a penalty, but also an see how some people can think that Mane made the most of the contact. And the fact that these two perfectly rational but contrasting points of view demonstrate exactly why VAR hasn’t removed controversy from the game as some expected.
The laws of football, particularly regarding fouls, are not black and white but rather a subjective interpretation by the referee who determines where a foul was committed. On this occasion, Chris Kavanagh had no hesitation pointing to the spot after Albrighton clumsily went through the back of Mane, with the initial contact between the pair enough for a penalty in my opinion.
However, the truth is that however I choose to dress it up, that is purely my opinion and I can see how the somewhat delayed or theatrical nature of Mane’s fall could be interpreted as a dive. While I haven’t seen a single angle that has shaken my belief that the referee made the correct call, my opinion is naturally coloured by my life experiences which are different to anyone else who views the incident.
I believe that that is the crux of the teething issues we are experiencing with VAR, with some commentators seemingly unable to acknowledge that football is ultimately a game about differing opinions. That is not the problem of VAR, or even a problem at all given the beauty, but has led to the new technology being widely slated when a tight call goes either way.
We will get used to VAR with time, but the important thing to remember right now is that no matter how strongly you hold an opinion on something that happens during a game, you can bet there will be someone else with just as strong a view opposing yours. That’s the beauty of football and while tribalism is here to stay, at the end of the day, some decisions will go your way and others won’t – just like they have for over 100 years.
In the 5th minute of second-half injury time, a James Milner penalty broke Leicester hearts and ensured Liverpool continued their perfect start to the season. The hosts had dominated much of the proceeding 90 minutes and took the lead in the first half through Sadio Mane’s 50th Premier League goal for the Reds.
However, after the Reds failed to make the game safe, Leicester thought they had snatched a point with 10 minutes to go when James Maddison found the back of the net with his side’s first shot on target. However, when Marc Albrighton brought down Mane in the box with the clock ticking away, there was only ever going to be one result with Milner sealing the points and ensuring Liverpool maintained their habit of grinding out results.
There was one surprise in Jurgen Klopp’s team selection, with Dejan Lovren chosen to partner Virgil van Dijk in the absence of Joel Matip after Joe Gomez’s tricky night in midweek against Salzburg. Otherwise, Jordan Henderson was given a rest with James Milner assuming both his position and the captain’s armband.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers was boosted by the return of James Maddison who replaced Ayoze Perez and started on the left-hand side of the Leicester midfield. The young Englishman completed a youthful and vibrant Leicester midfield that also included Denis Praet, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes.
Immediately from kickoff, the Liverpool front three assumed a slightly different formation than usual, with Sadio Mane on the right-hand side, Roberto Firmino moved to the left and Mohamed Salah through the middle. The game plan similarly became apparent early on, with Salah constantly looking to get in behind the Leicester back-line.
Rodgers men seem to have been taken aback by the switch and were on the back foot early on with both Firmino and Mane frequently coming central to create an overload. This also created even more space for the Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold to operate in wider areas, with Leicester pinned into their own half during the opening exchanges.
When the first clear chance did arrive, the Reds should have taken the lead when Milner blazed his back-post volley over the bar from close range. It looked like the danger was gone for Leicester as the ball trickled towards the touchline, but Alexander-Arnold reacted quickly as the ball bounced back off the corner flag, nutmegging Ben Chilwell and standing his cross up to the back stick perfectly.
While the Reds had had a positive start, Leicester had done a decent job keeping them out, with Caglar Soyuncu particularly impressive cleaning up any attempted ball in behind. However, with Jamie Vardy striking an isolated figure up front, the Foxes were struggling to keep hold of possession for extended periods.
When the Foxes did eventually start to get some control of the game just before the half-hour mark, Lovren was called into action with a couple of strong defensive headers that defied his long period out of the side. Meanwhile, Fabinho was his usual destructive self at the base of the Reds’ midfield while Georginio Wijnaldum seemed to have more license to get forward in the absence of Henderson.
Just past the half-hour, another inch-perfect Alexander-Arnold cross again should have led to the opener, but this time Firmino could only get his studs to the ball and guide it wide of the post. While this ball came from a deeper area, it had the same trademark whip and pace that deceived Jonny Evans and provided Firmino with the chance.
However, Liverpool weren’t to be denied for long and on his 100th Premier League appearance for the Reds, Sadio Mane scored his 50th Premier League goal to give his side a deserved lead before the interval. The goal came from a simple long ball in behind by Milner down the left-side of the Leicester defence.
Leicester were in trouble from the moment Evans failed to cut Milner’s ball out, with Mane capitalising on the Northern Irishman’s mistake, taking two touches to settle himself before slipping his finish past Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester net. There was only ever going to be one result once Mane found himself in such space baring down on goal and the Senegalese winger’s recorded of a goal every other game puts him among the truly elite.
It was as if the game had been kick-started into life with Mane’s goal, with the Reds creating two more chances to double their lead before half-time, though neither Mane or Milner was able to add a level of comfort to the half-time score. Up the other end, Vardy looked set to finally get a sniff of goal on the stroke of the break, only for Lovren to again thwart the Englishman and keep the score 1-0 at the break.
Rodgers made one change at the break, with Marc Albrighton replacing the quiet Barnes on the right-hand side in an effort provide more deliveries into the box. However, it was Liverpool who were again straight onto the front foot, with Schmeichel called into action to make a fine save from point-blank range against Salah.
Liverpool were again found themselves camped in the Leicester half as the second-half progressed, with the Foxes yet to have a shot on target or a clear chance. Every time Evans or Soyuncu cleared the ball, it seemed to fall to one of Lovren, van Dijk or Fabinho who would win the ball back and recycle possession.
Even when Rodgers’ men put together a spell of possession, they struggled to break down the resolute looking Liverpool defence with Adrian smothering at the feet of Vardy on the one occasion the striker got free. Meanwhile, the chances continued at the other end, with Robertson, Salah, Mane, Firmino and Wijnaldum all presented with opportunities to make the game safe.
As the game entered the final 20 minutes, Liverpool nerves began to raise as they had not yet put the game beyond doubt. The intensity of Klopp’s men had dipped a little with Leicester enjoying more possession and looking more and more threatening with each passing minute.
With 10 minutes remaining, Leicester indeed made the hosts pay with their first effort on target of the night drawing the Foxes level. Substitute Perez’s fine work created the space for Maddison, who ran in behind van Dijk and slotted his effort under Adrian to stun Anfield and set up a tense final 10 minutes.
The final stages devolved into a frantic end-to-end affair, with both sides looking dangerous and the previous defensive solidity seemingly cast away in search of a late winner. There was a worry for Liverpool when Leicester substitute Hamza Choudhury cynically scythed down Salah, picking up a yellow card in the process and causing Salah to be replaced by Adam Lallana.
However, the drama wasn’t done there as the Reds were awarded a late late penalty after Albrighton brought down Mane in the box. Leicester looked to have the situation under control when Albrighton dispossessed Divock Origi on the edge of the area, but a miscommunication between the Leicester man and his onrushing goalkeeper allowed Mane to steal the ball.
As the Senegalese looked to get the ball onto his right foot to finish the chance, Albrighton clumsily caught Mane foot, giving away a late spot-kick that was confirmed by the VAR. Always the man for the big occasion, Milner duly sent Schmeichel the wrong way before celebrating with the Kylian Mbappe arms-crossed celebration as the three points stayed on Merseyside.
For what it is worth, the Reds were good value for the result over 90 minutes, though Leicester will feel their game plan almost worked to perfection with their late surge enough to trouble Klopp’s men. In the end though, the Foxes were left to lick their wounds, with a minor scuffle breaking out at the full-time whistle the ultimate demonstration of their frustration.
Liverpool Man of the Match – Sadio Mane
Fairly easy decision here – Sadio Mane was truly excellent today. Not only did the Senegalese score his side’s first before winning the late penalty that won the match, but Mane was also dogged in his defensive duties, rousing the Kop with a number of challenges. Mane truly seems to improve every week and it is fitting that on his 100th Premier League appearance for the club, the former Southampton man was the most influential on the park.
Mane’s strike rate of a goal every second game from the wing would be considered genuinely world-class in any other generation not dominated by the freak talents of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but either way Mane deserves credit as one of the best around. An honourable mention should go to Dejan Lovren who was very impressive at the back in his first Premier League start of the season and will look to give Klopp a difficult choice to make when Joel Matip returns.
Liverpool’s trip to Southampton on Saturday had all the makings of an early season banana skin for the Reds. Less than 72 hours after a gruelling 120 minutes in Istanbul, Jurgen Klopp’s side faced a resilient Southampton side who in Ralph Hassenhuttl have a manager cut from the same cloth as Liverpool’s big German.
These fears proved to be accurate during a difficult first 45 minutes for the Merseysider, however, a strong second half performance gave the Reds all three points. Despite this, here are 5 lessons that Klopp and Liverpool can learn from their trip to St Mary’s.
Squad depth remains an issue
This week marked the first occasion this season, though it is still in its infancy, when Liverpool have had to play two games in a week. However, after the International Break in September, the Reds are likely to have to play every 3 to 4 days for most of the rest of the season depending on their progress in the Champions League and domestic cups.
Add in the Club World Cup in December and Klopp will have to negotiate the most hectic schedule in recent memory if the club are to win further silverware this season. However, preseason predictions that Klopp lacks depth in key areas of his squad already seem to be on the money.
The first and most obvious example is in goal where the absence of the world class Alisson has left Klopp with only one truly viable first team option for the first 2 months of the season. When understudy Adrian was bizarrely injured during the celebrations in Istanbul, Klopp witnessed how quickly key injuries can ravage a squad and will be hoping none of his other big name players suffer from similar circumstances.
The lack of a true third choice ‘keeper, bar the also injured Caoimhin Kelleher who is highly rated, meant that Adrian was forced to play at Southampton and looked uncomfortable using his swollen ankle all afternoon. While it is hard to make excuses for the inexplicable error the Spaniard made to gift Danny Ings a goal against his former employers, the fact that Adrian was forced to play at all is a sign of how thin Klopp’s squad is this season.
In midfield, where Klopp has the most viable first team options, Liverpool had the luxury of resting Fabinho and Henderson, who played the full game in Istanbul, without significantly weakening the side. The same was not possible for the likes of Mohamed Salah who also lasted the full 120 minutes at Vodafone Park but was asked to replicate this effort against Southampton and is surely a risk of burnout if he cannot be properly rested all season.
Imagine if a similar crisis hit the front three again like it did before the Champions League semi final second leg against Barcelona. The likes of Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri were able to step up for the big occasion, but Liverpool would surely suffer if even one of the front three misses a significant proportion of the season.
The same can be said of the backline, where the absence of two of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andrew Robertson would leave Klopp with a very inexperienced rearguard. While this line of thinking may seem pessimistic, and all teams would be worse off without their best players, injuries are a part of football and even early in the season, there are reasons to suggest that a lack of depth may cost Liverpool this season.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is not a winger – but could be vital in midfield
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was given a big vote of confidence by his manager after a disappointing night on the left wing against Chelsea, starting for Klopp in the centre of midfield against his former club on Saturday. In stark contrast to just 3 days earlier, the 26-year-old, whose birthday coincided with the Super Cup celebrations, excelled at St Mary’s and offers something unique in comparison to Klopp’s other midfield options.
The English International looked confident and assured in midfield and was full of running on his first league start since April 2018. Oxlade-Chamberlain is the most offensive of Klopp’s midfield options and also likes to pull wide into the space left vacated by Sadio Mane and Salah to make use of his crossing ability.
While Oxlade-Chamberlain struggles as an out and out winger, the Southampton Academy graduate possesses the pace and delivery to be a threat from wider areas when he can drift more naturally into these positions. Oxlade-Chamberlain also has the awareness and mobility to drag the opposition midfield all over the pitch and drifts from side to side, back to front, though usually remains the furthest forward of Klopp’s midfield three.
In the above move, Oxlade-Chamberlain comes short to support Alexander-Arnold alongside Salah. Noting the space left in behind by Salah coming short, Oxlade-Chamberlain plays a bounce pass and pulls away to run in behind, in the process creating space for Alexander-Arnold to push forward into.
While Oxlade-Chamberlain didn’t end up receiving the ball, his run was invaluable in drawing away Jannick Vestergaard and Alexander-Arnold was able to deliver a promising ball into the box. This type of movement adds an extra dimension to Klopp’s midfield and takes the attention away from the likes of Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Mane and Salah.
Or maybe he’s cut from granite. Whatever it is, Milner seems to be nigh on indestructible. The retired English International seems to be getting even better with age and once again topped the fitness charts in preseason despite turning 33 last January.
In what is becoming a common sight, Milner once again required stitches after a nasty head clash with James Ward-Prowse. Milner also suffered a similar injury against West Ham on the opening day last season but barely flinched and came back with his head wrapped in bandages.
Milner embodies Klopp’s spirit on the field and it is no wonder why the German continues to give the Yorkshireman plenty of minutes. Milner is also a true leader on the park and a key influence in the dressing room and despite his contract expiring next summer, expect Milner to be offered new terms as he shows no signs of slowing down.
Joel Matip improves defence – but defensive issues persist
Liverpool have demonstrated a startling vulnerability to balls in behind during the early stages of this season. Liverpool have conceded chances to balls particularly in behind their right flank, but the return of Joel Matip alongside Virgil van Dijk has added some solidity to the rearguard.
While Matip is an improvement right now on Joe Gomez, who has looked a little below par since his injury in December 2018, the Cameroonian can tend to switch off and lose track of runners. With Alexander-Arnold also on the right flank, Liverpool are still vulnerable to switches from the opponents right to left.
Southampton’s best chance of the first half came when Ward-Prowse was able to pick out Che Adams in the middle. Adams pulled between Alexander-Arnold and Matip with neither ultimately getting close to the young English striker who is a new signing at St Mary’s.
While credit must go to both Ward-Prowse for the delivery and Adams for the run, Matip is completely unaware of the danger, is slow pushing forward the Liverpool line and is caught ball watching. Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold also appears to have switched off and reacted slowly to the danger.
Later, after Adrian’s mistake gave the Saints a lifeline in the game, Danny Ings was presented with a gilt-edge chance to steal a point for his side at the death. In the buildup, Robertson was caught 5 yards behind the defensive line and played Yan Valery onside.
Next, van Dijk and Matip are slow to react with three Southampton players in promising forward positions for Valery’s cross. Both are more interested in watching the ball and particularly Matip needed to be aware of the run of Ings who is in his eye line.
Instead, Ings pulls well clear of the Liverpool centre backs and meets Valery’s cross in acres of space. Luckily for Klopp, his former player let the Reds off the hook but the entire situation could have been avoided if first Robertson had held the defensive line and then Matip and van Dijk had reacted quicker to track the Southampton runs.
This one is less of a nuanced analysis than an unashamed appreciation post for the Senegalese winger. Mane has been in absolutely ridiculous form particularly since the turn of the year and is Liverpool’s most clutch player right now.
Mane has scored 15 goals for the Reds already this calendar year, the most of any player in the league without taking a single penalty and is such a big game player. The Senegalese is also selfless and willing to provide ammunition for his strike partners as demonstrated by his pressure to win back the ball and feed Firmino for the Brazilian’s goal.
Mane has not just been brilliant but has also become a much more consistent player and on current form and output would walk into any team in the world right now. Liverpool’s number 10 has a clear connection with Firmino in particular and the duo dovetailed with great effect to trouble both the Chelsea and Southampton defences this week.
Mane is also a very durable player who is rarely missing through injury and if the Senegalese can continue this streak, he may provide the ammunition that fires Klopp’s men to the title in May.
The Anfield Chronicle 