Liverpool finally rediscovered winning ways with the two record signings instrumental architects in the process, while Arne Slot‘s biggest gamble so far paid off.
There is no turning away from the fact that Alexander Isak‘s transition to life as a Liverpool player is tough going. He often looks like a footballer suffering from the classic case of trying too hard, pulling away from the usual mechanisms of his game.
It’s no secret that the Sweden international is not some all action, every-blade-covering, pressing monster. But he’s getting himself about, grinding into the spaces and wanting to show all the willingness as the pressure looms heavy over his, thus-far, highly anticlimactic £125m record transfer.
But an often forgot truth in all of this is, in committing to buying Isak, Liverpool went back to the model of recruiting an out-and-out thoroughbred No.9.
Watching these types of footballer, when they’re out of form and shorn of match fitness, is not a pretty experience. We’re forgetting this because of how bad things have been of late for Liverpool, and how much sheer desperation there is for consistent goals.
But this Liverpool side over the past decade has been primed on the highly niche and unique talents of Roberto Firmino as a bespoke No.9. Those types of player always look good, creative, effortless. Their overall goals haul is much less, but that is part and parcel.
The Isak types of professional footballers are much more direct, and much more transactional. They rarely paper over the cracks of the barren moments and the teething periods by providing performances of pure silk.
Isak is a player who needs to be understood by his team-mates, found regularly by his team-mates and have his eye for goal professionally sharpened by relentless opportunities on goal.
It will come, the goal here itself was evidence enough – a reflexive, slotted effort tucked delicately at pace inside the near post. This lad knows how to score, no doubt, but the team need to massively lock in and provide for him to prevent this slow burn taking even longer.
Florian Wirtz needs consistency
Florian Wirtz was the best player on the pitch for Liverpool, and the central component to the new dynasty going forward. Every time he plays Wirtz does something which looks and feels like magic, albeit only in flashes so far.
But the jury has never been out on whether the big money signing can play football – he can play the game better than almost everyone, but he badly needs consistency around him. The foundations have been laid today for Arne Slot to give the Germany international a consistent run in the midfield three, with the free-reign remit of being able to maraud the central channels at will.
Top players thrive with familiarity around them, so it came as no surprise to see Isak easing into the match much more quickly when Wirtz started to lose his marker time and time again. His passing range and quick thinking led to strong link-up with Cody Gakpo, who was otherwise having an indifferent afternoon.
To capitalise on whatever momentum this victory will give, Wirtz needs to be the first name on the team sheet in the attacking department, and Liverpool need to go again.
Joe Gomez role follows Arsenal
The return of Gomez was becoming more and more predictable, and here it felt like it paid off. Liverpool’s longest serving player filled in well at right back, as he has done many times before.
But it was the imposing and slightly unconventional presence of another central defender added to the back line which helped shore Liverpool up in the capital.
A characteristic now seen plastered across Arsenal team sheets on a weekly basis – a series of big defenders dispersed across a variety of positions – it could be something borrowed at Anfield in the coming weeks as Slot finally grasps the non-negotiable decision that Dominik Szoboszlai has to play further up the field in order to lead the forward press.
Gomez has always been a confidence player and somebody who benefits from a prolonged run in the side. It may be time to stick with this one for the foreseeable and allow something to build.
Slot’s Salah gamble pays off
Like Jurgen Klopp before him, Slot has shown time and time again that dropping – or even substituting – Mo Salah is something that is rarely ever considered.
So, it took a brave man to traipse down to the capital with Salah suited and booted, only to leave him on the sidelines for the duration.
And yet, it paid off. Salah’s form has been on a par with Liverpool’s own miserable decline, and today the attacking line looked balanced without him, despite being far from clinical.
The absence of Salah seemed to free up those around him; the pressure was lifted in the sense of not having to pass to the main man, or cover a channel of space that it isn’t his job to monitor. With Liverpool needing a win more than anything today, Slot simply had to take this nuclear option and his bravery was rewarded.
There will be a time and a place for Salah to come back into this team. His recent slump is being targeted by a great deal of hyperbole given his age and status, but it’s also remiss to think Salah’s game-time in the Liverpool starting XI this season won’t start to transition rather rapidly from this point onward.
Liverpool may do better on the road
While things are like they are, it’s perhaps not wide of the mark to predict that Liverpool may start to get a great deal more joy on the road.
The travelling Kop were in full voice and roared this lot on until the final whistle, capping things off with a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Liverpool’s away faithful have always been the best of the best, and Slot knows he will be backed to the bitter end by those spending their hard-earned money and time following the Reds around this fair isle. There is a real unity between players and fans in the tightly packed, limited-numbers away ends, and Liverpool need to capitalise upon this unity and togetherness right now.
A return to Anfield will bring with it the pressure of restoring the fortress. It goes without saying that this is something Liverpool absolutely have to do, but it can’t be achieved without confidence and a run of momentum built beforehand. Getting points on the board from away trips like this can work miracles for the Reds, even if wins have to be ground out like today in the more unceremonious of circumstances.
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