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) | AnfieldNovember 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 expensive vogue from the Reds, however way more final yr than this time period.
A number of Reds on the day nevertheless didn’t actually get themselves out of that exact strategy: Alexis Mac Allister had one in all his worse days of the marketing campaign, and Trent Alexander-Arnold might 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 be taught the lesson of counter-attacks
It’s all nicely and good that Arne Slot desires Liverpool to be completely dominant, management the ball and territory and never should endure a chaotic nature of matches – however generally, the opposite crew 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 should be taught to match it over again.
The management and poise we present when on high in video games, when dealing with sides who don’t go all-out each time they get the ball and who aren’t as bodily dominant may be massively pleasing. However up to now this season, our potential 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 lift our sport.
Brighton are higher than each these sides at one of these energetic, ball-winning transition sport and the Reds have been fortunate to solely be one aim down on the interval.
The second half was much better, sure, however we should be capable 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 gradual to be lifted by something.
The house crowd didn’t have quite a bit 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 advantageous instance: the squad react to the roar of the stands, and the followers likewise are in advantageous 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 most likely deserves a thanks be aware for actually lighting a fuse below 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 choose 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 vital – however all three of Slot’s first substitutions did precisely what was required of them to raise Liverpool’s degree of high quality and power.
Joe Gomez got here on for the injured Ibou Konate and produced a improbable exhibiting on the coronary heart of the defence, even nearly scoring his first aim 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 actually did the enterprise.
Jones, so spectacular of late, made a improbable surge to ultimately help Salah for the go-ahead aim – 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 facet is one other massive outcome to go alongside seeing off Chelsea, successful in Leipzig and avoiding defeat at Arsenal.
And so as to add to the significance of at this time’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 house. Might this be a season-defining day?
Dropping factors on our personal turf would have felt like a large waste, in order a lot because it’s a giant win in isolation, it’s an ideal approach to head into the final two matches earlier than the worldwide break in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa.
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
