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Losing on penalties is never a pleasant experience, especially when it’s against the same team that beat you on penalties just over a month ago, and after a performance where you were the best team for most of the game.
It’s no secret that the League Cup has always been one of Liverpool’s lowest priorities under Jürgen Klopp, but that doesn’t change the fact that they should have scored at least once against Arsenal on the balance sheet. Seven shots on target (and another that hit the crossbar) versus the two of the visitors tells their own story.
Had it not been for a series of superb saves by Bernd Leno, especially to tip Marko Grujic’s header over the crossbar in the second half, Liverpool would have earned the victory that their performance ultimately justified.
They failed to do so, however, and like the Community Shield, Arsenal prevailed on penalties after it hardly seemed likely that they would win in normal time. The nature of the loss was undoubtedly disappointing, but nonetheless, there were several positives to a mix-and-match Liverpool, several of which had never played together before.
Here’s the podium …
Gold: Rhys Williams
This time last year, Rhys Williams was on loan to Kidderminster Harriers in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football. Until last week, when he was named to the starting lineup against Lincoln City, many would not have heard of his name, or at least they would not have seen him in action before.
Getting it right that night was one thing, but doing it against Arsenal is a very different challenge. However, he did not look remotely out of place at any point, and could turn away with his head held high from the way he stepped forward and acted with such courage and composure.
Intelligent in his reading of the game and strong in the air (winning five of his six aerial duels), Williams more than played his part in Liverpool’s clean sheet, helping to limit Arsenal to scraps. It is very likely the last chance he will have at the top level with Liverpool for a while, but he will have benefited greatly from the experience of these last two games.
Silver: Neco Williams
After taking an unwarranted beating following last week’s win over Lincoln, Neco Williams served as an impressive reminder of why Klopp and Pep Lijnders trust him as the main right-hander for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Frequently prowling the wing, he was a consistent outing on the attack, making two key passes and playing a prominent role in Liverpool’s preparation game in the final third. Defensively, he was also largely excellent, making five tackles, five interceptions and winning four of his six aerial games.
Arsenal naturally sought to target that side of the field, but together with their (southern) namesake, they faced the task admirably. His perfectly timed intervention to push the ball away from Bukayo Saka into the box in the second half prevented an excellent scoring opportunity. A really solid screen, and one to get a lot of encouragement to keep going.
Bronze: Curtis Jones’ rabona cross
Confidence and self-confidence are never in short supply with Jones, and this bold first-half skill epitomized exactly why. First selling Joe Willock and Dani Ceballos with a shoulder drop, the dinked rabona cross that followed was the kind of thing usually only seen in FIFA or in clips from training ground, not in actual competitive matches against high-caliber opponents.
Ok, it didn’t quite work out, but it was a rare and momentary glimmer of fizz in a game that was pretty turgid for the most part. Jones is never shy about trying things that others wouldn’t, and it’s that bravery that makes it seem like he’s been playing at this level for years.
Must do better: Divock Origi
Of all the players who stepped up to shoot penalties for Liverpool on penalty shootouts, Origi really should have stood alongside James Milner as one of the most dependable.
Had he scored, Liverpool would have been on the brink of victory. Instead, it was a tame effort that Leno easily salvaged and turned the momentum in Arsenal’s favor. Disappointing of a senior pro who is more than capable of getting the ball 12 yards away.
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