It’s just rolls from bad to worse. This wasn’t a defeat but it had all the feelings of one. Jurgen Klopp selected what he views as his strongest XI and they limped to a draw against a relegation-threatened, second string Wolves side at Anfield. A ‘fortunate’ VAR call means the reds are still in the competition although they have to fit in a replay that neither side particularly wanted. We have a look at Lesson Learned from the game…hopefully everyone with sway at Anfield is looking as hard.
Positives
There were positives to take from the game, whether you choose to believe it or not. Trent Alexander-Arnold got his second assist in consecutive games with the ball of the match for Darwin Nunez. In truth, any creativity looks like coming through Liverpool’s full backs right now as Nunez and his forward colleagues were largely starved of service. The former Benfica man took his goal brilliantly and showed he fancied the task on more than one occasion with bursts and link-up down either flank.
Mo Salah wasn’t his electric best but proved again the effect he can have when you get him in dangerous areas and there were a few nice moments from a clearly unfit Cody Gakpo. Ben Doak delivered another impressive wee cameo, but the manager will naturally manage his development very carefully. It may feel like clutching in some sense but it’s never as bad as you think it is and the reds need to build on any positives they can muster.
Abandon The 4-3-3 For Now
What appears to be staring most Liverpool fans in the face, clearly isn’t being agreed with by those that matter. The gaps were all over the pitch and Jurgen Klopp’s suggestions that “ it looks open in moments but it’s just open because we think we win the challenges, but don’t.” fell on deaf ears. The challenges won stats (Hendo 0, Fabinho 1 and Thiago 6) don’t make for great reading but it’s far more than that.
Whether you deem it loyalty to the wrong players, legs having gone etc the simple fact is the midfield area is the greatest cause for concern right now and desperately needs help. A change to a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 appears crucial to ensure the spaces between players are lessened and people can’t ‘walk through the middle’ as the boss proclaimed last night. It won’t solve everything but you’d bet good money it would be welcomed by those in the middle third just now.
Tell Us What We Already Know
Stevie Wonder can see that Liverpool need midfield reinforcements and they’re needed as quickly as possible. The believed first choice midfield of Fabinho, Thiago and Henderson again looked open, leggy, lacking physicality and had little impact during the match. The fact they only won seven tackles between them all game (Thiago leading with 6) tells its own story. Whilst they’re not being helped by the formation employed, their Wolves counterparts often played through and around them whilst late substitute and rumoured target Matheus Nunes passed any Anfield audition with flying colours.
Naby Keita brought an initial impetus on his introduction but lost possession a number of times whilst enough has been said about Harvey Elliott in recent times. Stefan Bajcetic must consider himself unlucky not to be given any minutes and many reds feel the youngster is more than deserving of a chance in the current climate. Liverpool are crying out for midfield additions this month as the clock ticks down. Christ knows what the Brighton midfield will do to us.