Liverpool’s 2-2 draw towards Arsenal was a good outcome, if not the best efficiency from the Reds, who drew for the primary time underneath Arne Slot.
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool
Premier League (9) | Anfield
October 27, 2024
Objectives: Saka 9’, Merino 43’; Van Dijk 18’, Salah 81’
The battle to fightback
Liverpool underneath Jurgen Klopp didn’t achieve the nickname mentality monsters accidentally. It could have been Klopp himself who coined it, however it got here on the again of a never-say-die angle in vital video games.
It’s by design that Slot’s workforce doesn’t continuously play with the all-out, monster power and frantic drive of a Klopp workforce, however in vital moments having gone behind towards Arsenal, they confirmed they nonetheless have the resilience to come back again into video games.
It was particularly vital to take action on this recreation towards a fellow would-be title challenger, and so they managed it twice.
It wasn’t an ideal efficiency from Liverpool, removed from it, however not shedding was vital.
A troublesome recreation was navigated with no scarcity of resilience, even when a few of the verve seen in earlier seasons was missing.
Lacking midfield
Liverpool’s midfield was ineffective within the first half, providing neither safety on the again nor a contribution in assault.
Alexis Mac Allister’s lack of defensive means on the left of central midfield made Andy Robertson’s already powerful job towards Bukayo Saka tougher and had a knock-on impact on the attacking risk of Luis Diaz, who needed to monitor again extra.
Curtis Jones, man of the match within the final league recreation in a central midfield place, began additional ahead and couldn’t get into the sport in consequence.
There have been slight enhancements firstly of the second half after which Slot modified issues up personnel-wise by bringing Dominik Szoboszlai on for Mac Allister, however they have been nonetheless not convincing on this space.
Ultimately, the most effective method for Liverpool seemed to be to go lengthy, passing behind the Arsenal defence and lacking out the midfield altogether.
One such second produced the second equaliser which concerned an amazing little bit of play from Trent Alexander-Arnolod, Darwin Nunez, and Mo Salah.
Dealing with accidents
A lot of the narrative within the build-up to this recreation was targeted on accidents, and it appeared like they may play a component within the recreation itself too.
Although Liverpool went into the match with out their first-choice goalkeeper and striker, additionally lacking solitary summer season signing Federico Chiesa, the speak pre-match targeted totally on Arsenal’s absentees.
William Saliba was out by suspension however in the long run, Arsenal solely had two gamers lacking by harm, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori.
Mikel Arteta had advised Saka and Jurrien Timber would miss the sport, however each began and Saka opened the scoring.
Arsenal might really feel aggrieved to lose one other centre-back, Gabriel, mid-game, after which Timber too. Liverpool finally took benefit by scoring the second equaliser.
They couldn’t do any extra of that, although, and each groups will likely be proud of this outcome given the circumstances during which they went into the sport or encountered inside it.
Van Dijk reacted with some shock after the match when requested about Arsenal‘s harm record, responding on Sky Sports activities: “Nicely, I feel they solely had two accidents at this time, isn’t it?
“Yeah [we’ve got our own]. So clearly they performed a really, very robust workforce, and it’s a part of the sport.”
Even
Set-piece particular
Arsenal’s set piece coach Nicolas Jover was credited for the aim Arsenal scored from a set-piece as Declan Rice whipped a cross in for Mikel Merino to go dwelling.
Jover is all the time distinguished within the technical space in these moments and is without doubt one of the most well-known set-piece coaches within the league.
Gary Neville jibed on commentary that Jover wasn’t stood up when Arsenal conceded from a set-piece on the different finish, which was well-worked by Liverpool.
Liverpool’s set-pieces are overseen by coach Aaron Briggs, and the transfer by Diaz in direction of the Trent Alexander-Arnold cross on the close to submit was intelligent and completely executed by all concerned as he flicked on for Van Dijk.
They possibly might have completed with a number of extra corners, particularly as soon as Kostas Tsimkias got here on with Gabriel off injured, however they didn’t create sufficient in assault to pressure such conditions recurrently. And in the long run, neither did Arsenal.
Can Liverpool bounce again once more?
Liverpool bounced again from Slot’s solely defeat as Liverpool boss, towards Nottingham Forest in September, by profitable the following eight video games in a row.
They’ll now must bounce again equally with one other run of victories if they’re to maintain pushing on this title race.
There are doubtlessly tough video games towards Brighton and Aston Villa on the horizon, however there may be the bonus of getting some respiration house within the Champions League.
With an EFL Cup recreation to come back within the week, this subsequent run of video games will check Slot’s squad rotation and his belief in a few of the gamers who haven’t performed a lot up to now.
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool
