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Now that was the performance of champions.
All preparation prior to Liverpool’s clash against Leicester City focused on the injuries affecting Jürgen Klopp’s team. This was labeled the biggest game of the season so far, which in itself is a statement given that the last outing was against former title winners Manchester City.
However, with an impromptu defense and another injury, this time from Naby Keïta, Liverpool did what they always seem to do and dominate a match. The difference this time? The 3-0 scoreline showed a fairer reflection of the quality gap between the two teams.
Brendan Rodgers prepared his team as many expected, with three in the back and transforming into five off-possession, focusing on hurting Liverpool on the fast break. Jamie Vardy didn’t sniff the goal, and that’s all the men in red’s credit.
Arguably the best performance of the season, certainly in the league, and considering the injury situation at the club. But Leicester also had absent players, and the work of getting the three points still had to be done.
Here’s our podium from a record night at Anfield.
Gold – Diogo Jota
We really have to start talking about Jota a lot more. When he arrived from Wolves a couple of months ago, very few could have predicted that he would start as well as he has.
Yes, many knew he had all the attributes to flourish in a Liverpool and Klopp team, but how many would have said he would be an Anfield record breaker? Not many, let’s say that.
The goal was a beautiful thing, and Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson have to be given credit for their passes that led to Jota’s header. It was a sequence of play that Klopp and his backroom team would have been delighted to see, and hope to see more in the future.
Back to Jota, and now he’s in inescapable territory for major league games, and certainly worth resting for the not-so-big games. It’s probably the first name on the team sheet, save for Alisson Becker in goal.
In a word, great.
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Silver – All Midfield
It was an area of the field that caused much debate in the preparation of the game, and to the surprise of many people, Jones and Keïta were selected along with Gini Wijnaldum. They were tasked with protecting the four behind them, as well as providing the creativity to help break through Leicester’s defense.
Both Jones and Keïta did exceptionally well, until the latter was forced to retire with injury, and it certainly justified his place in the starting lineup. The way they stopped passes to Vardy and helped launch attacks for players like Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané and Jota deserves a lot of credit.
When you think there are still Thiago Alcântara, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson and Xherdan Shaqiri who are all out and could do a job in the middle of the park, it is certainly a solid position for Liverpool.
Let that continue for a long time.
Bronze – Roberto Firmino
This will probably be tough on several players, but given that the Brazilian finally and deservedly made it onto the scoreboard, he deserves a mention. James Milner and Fabinho could easily have gotten this spot, but Firmino just comes close.
For most of the contest it seemed like it wouldn’t be Firmino’s day, as it has been the case for quite some time these days. But the important thing is that he never stopped giving up and showed many moments of brilliance.
Had he been a meter closer he would have nodded after a header from Joël Matip, then he had another shot against Kop before he was almost certainly denied a goal for what was later found to be only 10 millimeters .
The signs were that it just wasn’t going to happen for him, and then it happened. With another brilliant corner from Milner, a header from Firmino that brought back the memory of a similar goal against AS Roma in the Champions League.
After the ball hit the back of the net, you could see how all the Liverpool players and staff were delighted with the Brazilian. Hopefully this is the beginning for me to return to scoring form.
You should do better: rule of five subs
Another game, another Liverpool injury. It is becoming a common theme that every time there is a match, a player suffers an unwanted injury. We can only hope Keïta won’t be out for long.
It’s getting to the point where Klopp is no longer so surprised, given that he has always been an advocate that teams can make five substitutions during games. He’s right with every week of passing play.
Would Keïta have been injured if Klopp had been able to make five changes? Maybe not, but it’s becoming a major theme in the Premier League, not just Liverpool, that players are getting injured by playing too intense football in such a short time.
Given that this is just the beginning of an intense series of matches that will last until February / March, it is concerning that more players will find themselves on the sidelines in the weeks and months to come. Will the Premier League get another vote? Only time will tell if that decision is made, but since EFL already made that change, that should be a consideration.
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