Liverpool produced the stereotypical sport of two halves to mount an Anfield comeback and beat Brighton to maneuver high of the Premier League as their two main rivals every misplaced.
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Premier League (10) | Anfield
November 2, 2024
Targets: Gakpo 69′, Salah 71′; Kadioglu 14′
Sloppy begin and a few poor performers
Sluggish passing, inaccurate passing. We’ve seen it earlier than and in pricey trend from the Reds, however way more final yr than this time period.
A couple of Reds on the day nonetheless didn’t actually get themselves out of that exact method: Alexis Mac Allister had considered one of his worse days of the marketing campaign, and Trent Alexander-Arnold may need improved barely, however nowhere close to sufficient.
The previous Brighton man was off in his ball retention, picked up one yellow card and was a tad fortunate to not get one other with a second-half foul – it was no shock to see him eliminated.
Dominik Szoboszlai was maybe the opposite who got here into that class, lacking in motion when the midfield was swarmed first half and never in a position to affect issues after the break as we upped our sport considerably.
One or two key starters too many being out of high type on the day.
Slot must study the lesson of counter-attacks
It’s all properly and good that Arne Slot desires Liverpool to be completely dominant, management the ball and territory and never must endure a chaotic nature of matches – however typically, the opposite group need precisely that.
And when they’re good at doing so, by being fierce in forcing turnovers, courageous in committing numbers ahead and speedy on the counter-attack, Liverpool must study to match it once more.
The management and poise we present when on high in video games, when going through sides who don’t go all-out each time they get the ball and who aren’t as bodily dominant will be massively pleasing. However to date this season, our skill to cope with groups who’re in our face proper from kick-off has been far much less spectacular.
Ipswich did it first half till they ran out of steam; Forest did the identical all sport lengthy and beat us once we have been unable to boost our sport.
Brighton are higher than each these sides at this sort of energetic, ball-winning transition sport and the Reds have been fortunate to solely be one purpose down on the interval.
The second half was much better, sure, however we should have the ability to react far faster to those conditions in future.
Ambiance lights as much as gasoline Anfield revival
A bit too flat, a bit too quiet, a bit to sluggish to be lifted by something.
The house crowd didn’t have loads to cheer first half and didn’t do a lot of it to raise the gamers – however the second 45 minutes was a complete turnaround in each regards.
It has already been proven this season and this was one other positive instance: the squad react to the roar of the stands, and the followers likewise are in positive voice when the play is faster, extra intense and intent on assault.
From kick-off within the second half the fabled roar was positively again, however Pervis Estupinan in all probability deserves a thanks notice for actually lighting a fuse beneath the supporters when he tried to sq. off in opposition to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
One other lesson for the brand new boss: Have interaction that fanbase on a Saturday afternoon!
Tremendous Slot subs have desired affect
If he has one or two issues nonetheless to select up after just a few months on Merseyside, we noticed right here some nice sport administration by Slot.
The primary sub was enforced, the subsequent have been obligatory – however all three of Slot’s first substitutions did precisely what was required of them to raise Liverpool’s degree of high quality and vitality.
Joe Gomez got here on for the injured Ibou Konate and produced a implausible exhibiting on the coronary heart of the defence, even nearly scoring his first purpose with a header (twice!).
Whereas he was glorious defensively, it was bringing Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz on, restoring some form however including attacking numbers, which was an early sufficient double sub from Slot that basically did the enterprise.
Jones, so spectacular of late, made a implausible surge to ultimately help Salah for the go-ahead purpose – then Wataru Endo got here on for a particular holding job and Conor Bradley noticed out the sport to double up down the wing.
Glorious throughout, with Gomez the choose of the bunch forward of one other mature Jones exhibiting.
Prime of the desk!
That troublesome run of fixtures continues… and continues to yield wins.
There can’t be any getting carried away after we actually wanted to dig deep to discover a comeback win, however beating an excellent Brighton aspect is one other massive end result to go alongside seeing off Chelsea, successful in Leipzig and avoiding defeat at Arsenal.
And so as to add to the significance of in the present day’s three factors, it places the Reds again to the highest of the Premier League on a weekend when each title rivals, Arsenal and Man Metropolis, misplaced away from residence. Might this be a season-defining day?
Dropping factors on our personal turf would have felt like an enormous waste, in order a lot because it’s an enormous win in isolation, it’s an ideal option to head into the final two matches earlier than the worldwide break in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa.
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
