Liverpool back to their very best as Tierney limps off for Gunners
LIVERPOOL looked back to their very best last night to heap the misery on injury-hit Arsenal, who had Kieran Tierney limp off just before half-time.
The Scotland international collided with James Milner and hobbled off with a knee injury and is now a major doubt for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Slavia Prague.
While it was a miserable night for Arsenal, Liverpool looked revitalised. Goals from Diogo Jota (2) and Mo Salah did the damage in the second half.
Recently the Reds have seemed punch drunk, a champion fighter staggering around the ring in a state of indignity. Now at least they are back on their feet and throwing punches. However, with such inexperienced centre-halves, you worry that one hit could floor them again.
But in that opening half Liverpool were so crisp in their passing, their midfield so dominant that Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak had little to deal with. It helps to have Fabinho patrolling in front of you. He exudes confidence and competence.
Meanwhile, Thiago Alcantara and Milner were switching play at every opportunity, drilling long precision passes into space for Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold to run on to.
Arsenal, crab-like, were reduced to hiding in their shell, containing the attacks. They did so effectively, limiting the flow of genuine opportunities but at the expense of attacking ambition of their own.
As such, they accepted that chances would be conceded and that they would have to rely on Liverpool missing them.
Early on, the chances were only marginal and the threat was minimal. So, Milner’s strike, Fabinho’s drive from 25 yards and Sadio Mane’s header caused only ripples of concern. But the direction of traffic was clear.
And on 29 minutes, Thomas Partey misjudged a clearance from Alisson and flicked his header into the path of the onrushing Mane.
He sprinted clear, looked up and saw his partner Salah racing to goal on the far right, but Mane delivered the pass just behind the Egyptian and the chance receded.
An even better chance came on 35 minutes when Liverpool worked their way down the right, Trent Alexander-Arnold cut inside and pulled the ball back for Milner. Twelve yards out, he took aim but struck wide. Arsenal, missing Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe, looked way off the pace and their injury fears deepened when star man Tierney limped off with an awkward- looking knee injury.
The Scot was distraught as he walked off the pitch, suggesting that the injury could potentially be serious. As one of Arsenal’s most reliable performers, Mikel Arteta will be hoping there is no lasting damage to the left-back.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke will also be hoping that Tierney’s injury is nothing too major with the Euro 2020 finals looming large in June.
The Gunners looked second best all around, the midfield of Partey, Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard having no sustained spells of possession. All they could offer was energetic running off the ball and containment strategy.
Liverpool made their dominance pay on 64 minutes. They patiently worked the ball out to Alexander-Arnold on the right and he delivered one of those delightful crosses that are his trademark.
Looping over the Arsenal defenders, it still had sufficient pace and spin to be attacked with gusto by Jota, who had pulled away from Rob Holding and held off the challenge of Calum Chambers to head home.
Even better was to come on 68 minutes. Liverpool, now with some reassurance, were hitting their stride.
Fabinho found his range and delivered one of those searching balls beyond the back four that are so irksome to defenders. Salah pounced and Gabriel, though he slid in to block, allowed the striker to run on. The denouement though was glorious.
Cutting in on goal with Bernd Leno approaching, in the micro-second Salah had to make the decision, he gave the goalkeeper the eyes and then nutmegged him, driving the ball cleanly through his legs.
Liverpool added their third on 82 minutes. Salah setting up Jota to fire home at the back post from 10 yards out.