Liverpool positive do love their 3-1 scorelines this 12 months. It’s the fourth time they’ve received such a consequence following on from wins towards Bournemouth, Wolves and LASK.
The Merseysiders modified the document barely this time round by throwing out a Mo Salah opener, albeit very a lot towards the run of play within the opening levels of the conflict with West Ham.
Even with momentum shifting the hosts’ approach, Jarrod Bowen’s excellent late diving header to degree proceedings felt a good reflection of what had gone on within the first-half of motion at Anfield.
With 5 wins already underneath our belt, you may forgive our continental contingent of supporters for dashing to place a guess at European bookies forward of our upcoming fixtures.
Even with difficult matches on the horizon – together with away journeys to Tottenham and Brighton both facet of a Europa League assembly with Union Saint-Gilloise – you’d be hard-pressed to search out any fan feeling nervous concerning the Merseysiders’ probabilities.
However onto the West Ham assessment…
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Repair that first-half efficiency and also you’re going huge this 12 months
Jurgen Klopp gained’t be checking again too far over his shoulder when analysing Liverpool’s robust begin to the 2023/24 marketing campaign, although some on-line supporters have already begun ruing a draw with Chelsea in our league opener with the desk trying extremely tight.
The relentless machine that’s Manchester Metropolis stand on the prime of the hill with most factors squeezed from their first six league video games, with Brighton and Tottenham taking on third and fourth simply past the Reds in second.
While it could be ludicrously unfair to be overly important of this Liverpool 2.0, particularly while nonetheless in its relative infancy, one can’t assist however surprise what it might obtain at the same time as early as the present marketing campaign if our subdued begins to first halves may very well be fastened.
Do Liverpool even want a No.6?
It appears a daft query if you look over on the Etihad with Rodri and the Emirates with Declan Rice.
Star holding midfielders are thought of gold mud – simply take a look at the impression Fabinho made at Anfield after settling in following a switch from Monaco.
Alexis Mac Allister has already drawn some criticism for his performances (maybe somewhat unwarranted, as he isn’t a specialist by any stretch of the understanding.
Nonetheless, his newest outing within the place towards West Ham confirmed a degree of sophistication that maybe demonstrates why there isn’t a urgent want for a like-for-like Fabinho alternative.
With a field formation permitting us an additional man in midfield (Joe Gomez was distinctive there, by the best way) and the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai reinforcing our management in the course of the park together with his dynamic, urgent masterclasses, it’s not simply as much as one man to defend the backline.
With that in thoughts: have Liverpool moved on from the necessity for a specialist No.6?
The shirt is Darwin Nunez’s to lose
The issue with Darwin Nunez has by no means been his aim risk however, reasonably, how he influences the sport defensively.
It was telling, then, that Jurgen Klopp particularly addressed this matter in his post-match feedback, noting, as reported by the Each day Mail: “The defensive work he places in might be the primary distinction. He at all times wished (to do it) nevertheless it was much less co-ordinated. Now that appears significantly better.”
If our No.11 can proceed to contribute past objectives and assists in that method, it’s tough to see something however an damage or cup competitions bringing the likes of Cody Gakpo or Diogo Jota again into the starting-XI.
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