We learn’t from Kop’s win in Germany
But, unlike Alexander-Arnold, Kramaric isn’t much of a set-piece taker. The striker, who flopped at Leicester before moving to the Bundesliga side in 2015, stepped up to take the penalty but lightly toepoked it almost directly at Simon Mignolet, who gratefully beat the ball away. be relied upon when he clumsily brought down Gnabry early on. This defence is a work in progress.
If the unthinkable happens, and Barcelona manage to prise away Philippe Coutinho before the transfer window shuts, Liverpool fans should take solace in the fact that their front three of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino look exceptionally dangerous – especially on the counter-attack.
Once again Mane was Liverpool’s best player, while Salah almost scored in the first-half when he broke free of Hoffenheim’s defence. The Egyptian winger will take time to fully adjust to his new surroundings, but already the signs are there that he will deliver for his new club.
However, Liverpool undoubtedly missed their Brazilian playmaker – any side would miss their best player – but they still look dangerous in attack without him. It’s the defence they need to concentrate on improving.
Former Arsenal youngster Serge Gnabry never quite showed his potential in England, but is highlyrated in his native Germany and was snapped up by Bayern Munich this summer after hitting 11 goals in 27 matches for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga last term.
Against Liverpool, the 22-yearold showed why Bayern saw fit to sign him from Werder, before sending him on loan to Hoffenheim to develop. He made an immediate impact when he ran at Lovren and won a first-half penalty, and had the ball in the net at the start of the second-half, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
Quick, powerful and with an eye for goal, the winger is already one of his club’s best players. – The Independdent