There have been positives galore to take from Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday, however the journey to Arsenal was additionally a degree of focus.
The Reds knew that victory was crucial on the Amex, with a purpose to sustain the stress on Premier League leaders Man Metropolis.
The wonderful Luis Diaz headed Liverpool in entrance to ease some early nerves earlier than Mohamed Salah buried a penalty to doubled the Reds’ benefit after the interval.
Jurgen Klopp‘s males might even be prime of the desk by this time subsequent week, ought to Metropolis lose at Palace on Monday and so they win away to Arsenal on Wednesday.
Right here, Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) is joined by fellow TIA man Jack Lusby (@LusbyJack) and Floyd Nundy (@TheFNundy) to dissect the win and choose their beginning lineups to face Arsenal.
The great…
FLOYD: At the beginning, the consequence and the three factors after one other skilled efficiency by which it felt like we didn’t go away third gear.
In current weeks, it has felt like a aware effort to preserve vitality and go about successful video games exerting the least quantity of vitality potential and that may solely be factor given we’re nonetheless difficult on three fronts.
At this stage of the season preserving the stress on Man Metropolis is the precedence and this consequence means they go into a troublesome away recreation underneath the lights towards Crystal Palace understanding defeat opens the door for us to go prime on Wednesday.
Given their poor document of chasing, each when behind in a recreation or throughout a title race, that may’t be understated.
The opposite constructive is Diaz.
After signing him in January I believed something he offered between then and the top of the season could be a bonus.
I can’t say I anticipated him to not solely have a look at house in our elite entrance line however outperform them at instances.
I don’t assume his decision-making has been one of the best on the remaining level however when that improves as he will get to know his team-mates higher, it will likely be horrifying how good he may very well be.
I’ll go so far as to place in an early shout for him to be Participant of the Yr subsequent season.
One other constructive is the type of the oft-maligned Keita. As he grows in health and rhythm, he’s shifting away from the midfielder I used to be anticipating and is popping into Gini Wijnaldum 2.0.
His potential to regulate a midfield is rising alongside along with his confidence and he’s beginning to appear to be a participant who now believes he ought to be a part of this workforce.
Lengthy might it proceed.
HENRY: As Floyd says, it was an expert three factors, and as soon as they took the lead, the win not often seemed doubtful.
Diaz was magnificent at instances and actually does appear to be he might develop into one in all the signings of the Klopp period, which is excessive reward certainly.
I believed Alisson, Trent and Matip had been nice, too – what a cross by the latter for Diaz’s objective! – whereas Keita continued his actually spectacular current type.
I’m so happy for him as a result of he appears such lad and has taken some unfair criticism throughout his time on the membership.
JACK: This recreation would have been a lot hairier had been it not for Alisson, who made an enormous save in direction of the top and got here off his line for very important interventions.
It’s no shock to see him and Ederson approach forward within the race for the Golden Glove, given how robust each Liverpool and Man Metropolis‘s defences are.
However, in my eyes, Alisson is a league above his compatriot.
He’s by far one of the best ‘keeper we’ve had in my lifetime, and as Klopp stated post-match: “He mustn’t have to indicate it in every recreation, however he confirmed it once more.”
The unhealthy…
FLOYD: The one adverse that springs straight to thoughts is Salah going off with a knock.
I do know Klopp stated he doesn’t assume it’s too critical, however to go each down for remedy after which need to go off means it’s a fear.
Salah’s damage historical past is phenomenal, nonetheless, so I hope it was only a precaution.
Exterior of that, it’s arduous to have too many gripes given the run we had been on as much as the Inter recreation in midweek.
Having stated that, it appears like we’re seeing extra gradual begins than we’re used to, beginning video games with sloppy passing and giving the opposition early encouragement.
It was the identical towards Brighton for the primary 15-20 minutes. They had been capable of finding attackers between our midfield and defence in the identical approach they’ve in earlier video games, creating constructive alternatives for themselves, albeit with out capitalising.
It was the identical firstly of the second half, leading to likelihood for Leandro Trossard, though he blazed over and it could effectively have been dominated out for handball by Neal Maupay.
I could also be within the minority, however I don’t assume Mane up entrance is working significantly effectively for him or us as a workforce.
He hasn’t been unhealthy by any means, however tends to take a heavy contact again into visitors and maintain the ball for too lengthy, inflicting our attacking play to undergo.
One of many different slight points is that Diogo Jota hasn’t scored a objective since he notched two within the win towards Leicester again on February 10, so it’s a little bit of a conundrum for Klopp as as to if he sticks or twists.
HENRY: I completely agree with Floyd concerning the gradual begins to video games – it appears to occur so typically, a lot in order that I’m satisfied we concede a nook within the first minute of each house match!
It’s no nice subject, however there are occasions after they’ve been a little bit fortunate to not go behind early, immediately making their job far more durable.
The VAR choice was completely staggering – as Jamie Carragher stated through the recreation, if the ball goes vast then Sanchez is distributed off, 100%.
It’s ludicrous, however frankly, I count on nothing much less from essentially the most incompetent assortment of officers I’ve ever seen.
I believed Salah was effectively brief his finest, too, regardless of his objective, and it does look as if he’s each drained and a little bit distracted.
Right here’s hoping the damage is nothing critical, however an evening off at Arsenal won’t be the worst factor on the earth.
JACK: Floyd and Henry have lined the 2 most important negatives for me: Stuart Attwell had a shocker and Salah’s damage is an enormous concern.
I’d prefer to put ahead a minor gripe of mine, in that Klopp turned to Jota relatively than Roberto Firmino as Salah’s alternative.
Jota appears to be struggling for confidence, and solely time on the pitch can enhance that, however after six video games out, Firmino would absolutely have benefited extra from these minutes at 2-0 up.
And what’s your XI vs. Arsenal?
FLOYD: Klopp’s rotation has been spot on for the previous couple of weeks and it could proceed right here, though with it being adopted by an FA Cup weekend, we might see fewer adjustments than regular.
The dovetailing of minutes between Keita and Thiago has been excellent and I’d proceed with that.
The aforementioned conundrum with the forwards will go away the supervisor with a troublesome choice, however with Jota having scored six objectives in six appearances towards Arsenal – a objective each 61 minutes he’s performed towards them – I’d be choosing him.
With Henderson departing early towards Brighton I’d put him in once more and save the likes of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott for the Forest recreation on the weekend.
So, assuming Salah is match, I’d go together with: Alisson; Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Diaz, Mane
HENRY: I concur with what Floyd has stated, assuming Salah is offered, however would go Mane over Jota, regardless of his document towards Arsenal.
I feel the rotating of Thiago and Keita is working rather well – I’m not completely satisfied it really works having them each, given they’re each diminutive and never the quickest – however Naby ought to really feel unlucky to overlook out.
Henderson is having a worse season, however I nonetheless belief him extra to ship within the largest video games, by way of a mixture of expertise and management.
I’d go together with: Alisson; Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Diaz, Jota
JACK: Personally, I’d assume that Salah is out for this one, at the very least as a starter, which ought to give Jota that likelihood to recapture his spark.
An unchanged again line is sort of sure, whereas I count on each Fabinho and Henderson to start out, possible alongside Thiago – with Keita, Elliott and Jones all choices for the FA Cup.
If Salah is out, it’s bought to be Mane, Diaz and Jota in assault.
So I’d go for: Alisson; Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Mane, Diaz, Jota
