Three Victories in January: Analysing Liverpool’s Performance

Liverpool Without Key Players: Struggling Creativity

Three games in January and three victories. It’s hard to be unhappy with that even if you are the red with highest expectations. A Liverpool line-up without Salah, Trent and Szoboszlai was likely going to struggle to create as much as it can do and so it proved in this Carabao Sup Semi-Final. The goal was a bit soft and there was an element of luck for the equaliser, but Liverpool’s endeavour earned it and it was a familiar story of the season in the end. We look at the lessons learned from Anfield as we take a one-goal advantage back to Craven Cottage in a fortnights time.

Bradley’s Impressive Performance

Bradley Steps Up The sponsors man of the match and a well earned Klopp embrace at the end. The Northern Irish youngster looked up for the fight from the off and but for a small slip it was a near perfect performance. Bradley was combative from the off and the only one offering threat down the right hand side in the early goings. His stats were impressive too as six tackles, nine duels won, two fouls gained and the most recoveries with six tell its own tale. He’s not Trent, nor is it fair to compare him on that scale, but Liverpool look like they may have serious right-back cover on their hands. A difficult game but a superb performance.

Bench Players Making an Impact

Subs Are Shining It’s ok to say you looked at that bench and had a few worries. With so many absentees, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo were the only real senior outfield players to call upon, yet again they proved another Klopp masterstroke. Liverpool looked to be going nowhere fast, before they replaced Grav and Harvey, which was the turning point of the game. Gakpo’s guided finish from Nunez’s cross was the winner and It was Darwin’s assist for Jones’ deflected opener too. Gakpo gets the winner but Nunez was everywhere and it was either abysmal or brilliant…there was no in-between. He still remains the most enthralling, frustrating, box-office, chaotic player I can remember. Let’s just enjoy the ride.

Curtis Jones: A Rising Star

Curtis The Game Changer If you weren’t aware if it before then the Toxteth lad has joined that bracket of Trent, Mo, Nunez, Szoboszlai and Jota who you think ‘do something…we need you!’ It’s not new for him to be playing so well, but it does feel like Curtis has gone up another level this season for us. He’s got four goals in his last six games, six contributions in his last nine and he’s averaging a goal or assist every 92.5 minutes. He seems to love this completion too having slaughtered West Ham in the previous round. A 98% pass completion too when Liverpool needed to be patient despite the growing Anfield groans was key. Let’s pray Southgate remains as ignorant as ever to his talents.