I took my time in writing this one as after the game, it really was so raw and unbelievably disappointing.
Going to Anfield I’m nearly always in a ‘I would love a point’ sort of a mood and this was no different but there was something in the back of my mind that made me think that we might have a chance of a little bit more.
Liverpool’s defence had let in two goals in each of the three games played this season, the team as a whole hadn’t played particularly well so far, Isak hadn’t turned up yet, they had a midfielder at right back…it just felt like if we went for it from minute one, we might have a chance here.
Maybe that was my mistake, focusing on their apparent weaknesses too much, I probably ignored the fact that we haven’t really gelled with Gyokeres upfront yet, nearly all of our goals have come from set pieces so far this season (4 out of 6) and we were missing arguably our two best players (Saka and Odegaard) along with Kai Havertz who would most likely have started this game.
In any case, as soon as the lineup was announced, I felt a little deflated. This is a bit unusual for me as I like to think I’m a very positive fan, always try to look on the positives and start every game thinking we’re going to win. However, when I saw Merino in midfield ahead of Nwaneri or Eze, it just felt like we weren’t being as bold or as brave as I wanted us to be. When Odegaard got injured against Leeds, Arteta had no hesitation in throwing Nwaneri into the fray. This was such a difference from last year where all of the fans were crying out for Nwaneri to start in midfield during Odegaard’s prolonged absence with Arteta turning to tried and tested pros in Merino/Trossard out of their usual positions instead.
It therefore felt like a bit of a watershed moment when Nwaneri came on against Leeds but then for Merino to start the next game, it felt like one step forward, two steps back.
Once I had got passed the lineup, I was then focused on the game and by and large, I think we played really well. We lacked a cutting edge upfront which with no Saka, no Odegaard an out of form Martinelli and new striker, in Gyokeres, that the whole team is still trying to adapt to, that wasn’t particularly surprising. Madueke was by far our most dangerous attacker and I thought he put in another excellent performance. Full of direct running and purpose, he definitely looked our mostly likely deadlock breaker and if even managed to force a save from Alisson, albeit a relatively comfortable one.
The defence was as solid as ever and limited Liverpool to shots from distance with David Raya making onto one save of note, which he unfortunately pushed right back into the danger area for an offside Ekitike to force home. No harm done on this occasion. If you take a step back from the disappointment of the result for a minute and look at the defensive performance in context, this really was a lot more than a ‘solid showing’. We went away to the current Champions, a ground where we have historically struggled, against a team that has spent a fortune on new signings over the game, our star defender went off injured only 4 minutes into the game, limit them to half chances throughout the whole 90 minutes, only to be undone by a freekick of the highest quality. That is really impressive and bodes well for the rest of the season.
There was a 15 minute spell where Liverpool were definitely on top, which is to be expected at Anfield, but even during that period, I don’t remember David Raya making save after save. There was the one that I mentioned, a few dangerous crosses, the odd dangerous run and I think that’s about it! On a day where the overriding feeling is disappointment, I definitely take solace in that.
Taking one from the Mikel Arteta playbook here but it really was a game of small margins. If Szoboszlai doesn’t put that free kick in off the post from 30 yards plus, I’d be writing about a battling point and a continuation of our unbeaten start. On the flip side, Liverpool would then be looking back on a lacklustre performance where they were hoping to make a statement win against a title rival but never really laid a glove on them. In reality, we’re in a points business and we left with none and Liverpool will be billed as a team that ‘know how to win, even when they don’t play well’ and that’s unfortunately hard to deny.
Regarding other positives to come from the game, I thought Cristhian Mosquera was immense when he came on and although I’m very concerned about the injury to Saliba, it looks like we might finally have an able deputy to give both cover and rest to the big man. Madueke was very bright again, Zubimendi is getting better with every game, Gyokeres has another 90 minutes under his belt as he looks to build up his fitness, another runout for the new star boy Max Dowman and a lively debut from new man, Eberechi Eze.
Time to dust ourselves off now and move forward. I know Skysports would have us believe that this was a ‘title decider’ but e truth of the matter is our title challenge won’t be decided on games like this, it will be on whether or not we can break down those low blocks at home and with the additions we have made over the summer, it finally looks like we’re in a place to do just that. Let’s see! Bring on Forest and Up The Gunners!!