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Alexander-Arnold reaction says it all
It was a celebration that said it all.
When Diogo Jota walked away to score his 11th goal of the season, it was his assistant who expressed the most emotion.
It’s been a surprisingly difficult three weeks without Liverpool action for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
After England’s omission of duty – and the subsequent explanation of it, at length, by Gareth Southgate, who publicly detailed a fall in form – Alexander-Arnold found himself in a curious position that was not created by himself.
Some experts in Liverpool were shocked by England’s downfall, but the player himself, to his credit, was unwavering in his public support on social media during the Three Lions’ three straight wins without him.
The message was clear from Alexander-Arnold: There is nothing to see here. Not from his perspective, at least.
But her loud cry as she broke through Jota’s impasse said it all.
It was a great goal for the Liverpool forward, but also for the English international, whose world-class delivery left his teammate with the most attractive balls to attack.
Question marks have hung around Alexander-Arnold all season, but the PFA Young Player of the Year has probably come under too much scrutiny given the almost comical juggling that Jurgen Klopp has had to do for much of this season. .
Klopp’s defense of his right-back was firm on Friday and just what Alexander-Arnold could have reasonably expected from the man who made him a Liverpool star, but the Reds boss was preaching to converts for most of the Reds fans.
“I don’t want to have a funny discussion about Trent,” Klopp said after the game. “It’s Gareth’s decision, but Trent is in good shape. And if someone says no, I have to say you’re wrong.”
The West Derby-born defender isn’t above constructive criticism, of course, but his standards haven’t been anywhere near the sub-zero level some have tried to argue since England’s omission.
Here he was back at his best. And like this, there is no better right back in this country, whatever Southgate thinks.
Reds aim steadily back in focus
This was the day Liverpool finally gave up the title.
Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Leicester earlier in the day meant that the Reds can officially no longer retain a crown they had waited 30 years to wear.
That, of course, was something that had been written on the wall for a long time, given the notable drop in fortunes since 2021, but its confirmation in black and white in early April will have hurt.
Or at least it would have if the focus hadn’t shifted to the battle of the top four a few weeks ago.
After just checking on the City’s results for much of the past two years, the Reds now have a look at just four others as this unpredictable chase for fourth place continues to rumble after the international break.
That’s something that even the generally pragmatic Klopp conceded before the match started when he admitted that the results of other teams, like Chelsea, who lost at home to West Brom, should be seen as great incentives for the rest of the season.
“It’s always the same, the only interesting thing is if we win,” Klopp said before the game. “But in our situation, if we win all our games and they win all their games, they are above us, so they have to lose.”
West Ham, Everton and Tottenham will also have their own designs in a top four spot, of course, but Chelsea could be seen to have been warned for this performance at Arsenal.
This was as good as Liverpool have been in months.
Salah gets his rewards
Arsenal’s Gabriel could have been reasonably satisfied with his deal with Mohamed Salah.
The Reds forward had twisted and spun and spun and run the entire game, but he was limited to few clear opportunities.
Much of that was down to Gabriel’s solid performance, but one slip was all it took for the Liverpool superstar to punish his marker.
When the Brazilian defender tried to slide the ball to safety, Salah pounced.
Immediately the Egypt captain walked in and his cheeky Bernd Leno nutmeg was enough to confirm the visitors as winners here.
The Liverpool superstar raised his eyebrows at the international break with a peculiarly timed interview with Madrid-based publication Marca.
But as Salah and Real Madrid are again preparing to be smashed into the headlines next week, thanks to the Champions League, the Reds striker was doing them just for his actions on the pitch in North London.
Now with 26 goals on the season and 18 in the Premier League, his last contribution was 93rd in 150 top flight appearances in England.
That, whoever you measure it with, is elite level.
There will be no match against Sergio Ramos in the Spanish capital on Tuesday night and talk of revenge may be delayed.
But Salah will arrive in Madrid with only one intention: to shoot Liverpool into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
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