Liverpool endured a disappointing collapse against Arsenal.
Arsenal scored on two first half howlers, which proved enough to shut down Jurgen Klopp’s Reds. The Gunners had a total of three shots on goal and still managed to win 2-1 easily.
A rare error from Virgil van Dijk in the 23rd minute gifted Arsenal the equalizer after Liverpool took the early lead with a goal from Sadio Mane.
A nicely developed build-up saw Roberto Firmino slide a slick delivery forward to Andrew Roberson, who tracked back and slid a nicely weighted ball across the box to meet a quality nick by Mane for the goal.
This, unfortunately, would be all the Reds could muster in the way of offense as their woes of clinical finishing in the final third continued unabated for the remainder of the match.
This looked more like a training match at Melwood than a league tie in London. At least this is how the intensity looked from the Reds for most of this match, particularly after the equalizing goal.
Allison made a horrendous effort at a pass to the wing which resembled a dying quail. Picked up by a pouncing Arsenal high line, and the Reds were suddenly looking at a goal down with 10 minutes left in the half.
Van Dijk and Allison bolloxed two leisurely taken passes and the match was over from there. Liverpool never looked like they had the creativity, the drive, or intestinal fortitude to come back. In the final 10 minutes of the opening period or the balance of the match in the second period.
Arsenal looked completely comfortable and in complete control. This was a hard one to watch if you’re a Liverpool fan, something that is becoming far too common of late.
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There was no second gear, no energy, no pace and a complete lack of urgency from Klopp’s lads. This is as poor an overall team performance as I’ve seen from a Klopp managed side in nearly three years.
The high flying Reds from the fall and winter have disappeared early to take their holiday. Arsenal played and set up their side’s tactics exactly like Burnley from the weekend past.
Expect every side the Reds face to play this type of match against Liverpool until they find their finishing form, and prove they can break it down in the final third.
Arsenal dropped deep for the remainder of the match, parking the bus in the second half and absorbed the pressure as Liverpool saw 70% of the ball once again with 23 shots and 8 on target. Mohamed Salah was poor.
Did somebody tell our lads that this is a 38 match season? They have crested, peaked, and crashed back down to the level of their opponents, spectacularly. Dropping a whopping 10 points of a possible 21 on offer in a matter of a few weeks.
Next up is a Chelsea side that are playing well for Frank Lampard. There will be no records for this Liverpool, who have lost two and drawn two now in seven fixtures since the restart. They have scored 11 and given up 8 goals in that time. Their defensive form and focus has completely disappeared at this point.
If Klopp was thinking of this as a mini tournament his team would be knocked out of the competition. Indeed, they just haven’t played well enough to win.
This has to be a nagging worry in the back of the gaffer’s mind for their prospects come fall.
This might not effect the team now, with a Premier League trophy to lift at Anfield, after the Chelsea tie on the 22nd, but in the years to come, these lads will eventually look back and be left to wonder at what might have been.
Their character and quality, indeed their ‘class’ is on the line now.