This is a team who are enjoying themselves again SMILES BETTER
THERE has been a lot of talk about Liverpool and their nerves as we head down the stretch in this Premier League title race. They have dropped a few points, the gap to Manchester City has closed. Jurgen Klopp has even been acting a little differently.
I saw none of that in their victory against Bournemouth. This was Liverpool back to their best.
Klopp’s side produced a workmanlike performance to win, which you need in a title race, but there was also so much flair to their play. The players had smiles on their faces, they looked to be having fun. That would not happen if they were feeling the pressure.
I really enjoyed seeing Mohammed Salah (right) back on the right with Roberto Firmino through the middle. Salah has played down the middle a lot recently but having him out wide gets the best out of everyone. You get a better Salah, you get a better Firmino. You get a better overall performance.
Salah was brilliant. His goals are one thing, but it is his influence on the game as a whole that is the most important factor.
That’s why I prefer him on the right. Players like Salah, if you play them down the middle, will still get their goals. But it has an impact on those around him. Firmino then starts to drop deeper than he needs to and stops having as much of an influence on the game by linking play and getting forward.
The other effect of having Salah out wide is to strike fear into the hearts of the opponents. A lot of that is down to Liverpool playing on the front foot with the incredible speed of those three — Sadio Mane on one side and Salah on the other — getting in behind defences.
Without that threat, full backs think they can get forward. They don’t have it in their heads that they have got Salah running at them. When he does, it makes a huge di f f e r e nce. Li verpool pi nned Bournemouth back for nearly 80 minutes of yesterday’s game.
The other impressive aspect of their performance was the midfield. Fabinho spots danger all over the pitch and breaks it all up, while Georginio Wijnaldum was brilliant on the ball — creatively and in support. He took his goal magnificently. It was one of Naby Keita’s better games, too. Everything just functioned well.
And Trent Alexander- Arnold made his return for Liverpool to round off a great day for the league leaders.
Everyone has commented on
Trent getting injured after Liverpool let Nathaniel Clyne go. But I don’t think that has been an issue. I have been impressed with James Milner in the full back position.
The only problem with the switch is that you then don’t have Milner in midfield — the leader in the middle of the park. With AlexanderArnold coming back, Klopp can now push Milner forward again.
Liverpool might not have the depth of Manchester City’s squad but I still believe they have enough for this title race as well as the Champions League campaign.
Bayern Munich will be a tough tie but they are not exactly flying in the Bundesliga. It is a good time for Liverpool to play them.
Dejan Lovren is on the verge of a return and Adam Lallana made his first Premier League start since November last week. Jordan Henderson was back on the bench after injury. I think they have more than enough depth.