Liverpool verdict: Jurgen Klopp may need to shift focus as transfer questions arise

When Liverpool lost to Manchester City at Wembley 12 months ago, Jurgen Klopp saw enough in his team’s performance to know that they were ready to battle for top honors once again.

But there wasn’t as much encouragement for this latest Community Shield disappointment for the Reds.

Rather than aiming for a profitable future, the frustrating loss to Arsenal underlined some of the problems they have been haunting since Liverpool ended their 30-year wait to be crowned English champions.

Yes, there were curious similarities to the setback suffered against City, Klopp’s team conceded a goal in the 12th minute, got a well-deserved draw in the second half but then lost 5-4 on penalties.

Rhian Brewster was the only player to miss during the penalty shootout here, launching his effort against the crossbar. Irritatingly, the youngster had been hired during injury time specifically to shoot a penalty.

Brewster winced as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted the decisive penalty, but a burgeoning career won’t be hurt.

Instead, you may wonder how Liverpool found itself in such a situation in the first place.

In isolation, this score matters little. The traditional act of raising the curtain has been a notorious barometer, and this year has apparently turned into a free weekend as an afterthought.

But the concern is how this defeat happened. In fact, for the second time in six weeks, Klopp’s team struggled to cope with the simple tactics of an Arsenal team that, on paper, showed up there to be taken.

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Sure, Liverpool were missing some key players. However, their starting lineup was much stronger than the Gunners’, and it’s for those absences that a team is built.

The vision of Fabinho playing the last half hour alongside Virgil van Dijk further underlined the need for a new center-back with the departure of Dejan Lovren, and Jordan Henderson’s momentum was greatly missed in a tempo-deprived engine room since the beginning.

The positives came in the bench performances of Takumi Minamino and Naby Keita, the former scoring his first goal for Liverpool since arriving in January to equalize with 17 minutes to go, converting coldly after Mohamed Salah got into the packed defense of Arsenal and combined with the Japanese. .

Minamino showed signs towards the end of last season that he was acclimating to his new surroundings, and his hit was yet another sign that he may be a genuine attacking alternative this season.

Both substitutes brought energy and determination to a front line also revitalized by a change to the 4-2-3-1 formation that was less blemished last season but gave the Reds a boost during the fall and winter of the previous season.

Roberto Firmino in particular had struggled in the first half, although he was not the only one as Liverpool trained hard in Austria and, having played two games the week before, seemed to have heavy legs.

So Liverpool’s poor record continues at the new Wembley, having now won just one of their last eight visits here. The former Twin Towers may have been considered Anfield South, but the arch has proven to be far less accommodating.

Defensively robust, fighter in midfield and looking to expose opposing defense to the rhythm of the forwards, Arsenal’s game plan under Arteta is quite simple but has proven to be enormously effective, with Manchester City and Chelsea also unable to find the answer to. the end of the last. season.

And the Reds were equally baffled during a poor first-half performance that only unraveled into some sort of life 15 minutes before halftime.

By then Arsenal had long established their position after having benefited from Liverpool’s weak defense after 12 minutes.

The Reds, having seen an attack from the left, were caught by a quick counterattack that ended with Bukayo Saka feeding Aubameyang to run towards the exposed Neco Williams. The youngster stayed out of the way, allowing the Arsenal man to finish home with a signature shot from 20 yards.

It represented a difficult afternoon for the youngster, who traveled a steep learning curve but, as with the goal, would have benefited from increased coverage from his teammates.

Alisson Becker needed to be alert to avoid Eddie Nketiah’s low shot shortly after, and while James Milner in the early moments had been a waste when heading into a Williams cross, it took Liverpool a while before they started to turn to Through the gears, the eerie silence and emptiness within the vast Wembley is no excuse for its slow start.

The second half was better although hardly sparkling, helped by the introduction of Keita and Minamino and the change of formation.

Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez denied Mane twice, the first being cleared by the excellent Andy Robertson, but there was only one other shot on goal other than the goal.

In fact, Arsenal finished the game stronger as Liverpool, prepared to attack, remained somewhat open in the center of the field.

These teams will meet again on the third weekend of the Premier League, and there is little indication that the Gunners will do anything different. Why change what works?

Klopp is now grappling with a scenario of whether Liverpool’s previously successful approach needs subtle adjustments, in terms of personnel or tactics.

There’s no need to be alarmed, there are still two weeks to go before the real thing begins, but this was a reminder of the levels the Reds had to reach to conquer Europe, the world and the Premier League.

And the boss will know that every mishap, no matter how minor, will face a debate over transfers until the window closes in October. Here we go again.