Liverpool fans are worried about the Community Shield loss to Arsenal.
In a repeat of last year’s game against Manchester City, the two sides finished 90 minutes at 1-1 and decided the game on penalties.
Rhian Brewster was brought on as a substitute and praised for his sharp finishing throughout preseason, but managed to miss his spot-kick and ensure Jurgen Klopp would start the campaign with more questions than answers.
The loss wasn’t down to one 20-year-old’s inability to convert from the spot. Neco Williams was exposed throughout the 90 minutes as he endured a difficult introduction to 2020/2021 – and some fans are worried that this is part of a wider trend.
Liverpool have conceded more goals than usual since football restarted, which is odd for a team who is normally watertight at the back.
Last season the same concerns were aired until Klopp struck on a winning formula, which included Joe Gomez in fine form and Virgil van Dijk leading the back four with his usual aura, composure and strength.
The manager will need to get back to the training ground and iron out some of the creases before Marcelo Bielsa’s incredibly fit Leeds United team face off against Liverpool on the first day of the new campaign.
Judging a team off the back of the Community Shield is always tricky business, but if that loss and general sluggish performance continues a pattern then fans have every right to feel slightly worried about the new season.
Liverpool defensively have looked poor ever since the restart really, backend of last season. Something isn't right.
— Spion Kop (@TheKopHQ) August 29, 2020
In the hyper-reactive world of football fandom, defeats do tend to be blown out of all proportion. After all, Liverpool lost this game last season and went on to dominate the Premier League in a way the competition has never seen before.
Matt Porter the MailOnline reported that Klopp confessed to having concerns of his own, especially in the final third.
"“In these games you need the final punch. We should’ve created more but we had to be careful because of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang because they are strong in counter-attack.“We deserved the equaliser for sure and could’ve scored more. You have to force it sometimes, create angles, pass in behind. We couldn’t create exactly the chances we wanted.”"
Takumi Minamino did manage to score his first goal for the club, which is a bonus, and observing how he develops over the course of a full season will be incredibly interesting.
For now, Klopp will get the lads back to training to work on the things that are making fans so concerned.