This means more

That was huge. I don’t feel like I can overstate the importance of that win, obviously with City and Arsenal both losing but not just because of our rivals dropping points.

I mentioned on the thread that it’s been a recurring theme in recent seasons, where our rivals drop points and we fail to capitalise. It happened a couple of times in the season we almost won the quad and last season, it felt like every time City or Arsenal dropped points, we did as well and I may be wrong but was it not the case this season as well when we lost to Forest?

The most frustrating thing about those past results was usually the manner in which they happened. No urgency or aggression about our game, when you’d think it would be the opposite and the players would be pumped up and fully motivated, desperate to capitalise on the rare slip ups of our rivals and for two thirds of the game today, it looked to be heading the same way. I heard a stat earlier which really highlighted the importance of capitalising on the rare occasions our rivals slip up – Today was the first time City have been two goals down in a league game in two years. That’s nuts but it shows the standard against which we’re trying to compete. City are a juggernaut and you know much of the season will be about just trying to hang onto their coat tails but when they do slip up, you simply HAVE to pounce.

To the game then and it’s a great result but for the best part of 70 minutes, it was a really poor performance. We were terrible in the first half, the 1-0 scoreline at halftime flattering us as it could have been a whole lot worse. We were toothless in attack, wide open in midfield and shaky at the back, as Brighton were outplaying us all over the pitch. They were quicker, sharper, more aggressive and won every 50-50.

I expected more changes at halftime than just Gomez for the stricken Konate, who picked up a freak injury in the last action of the first half. It clearly wasn’t working with the players on the pitch and we duly picked up the second half where we left off in the first – no semblance of control, forwards not involved in the game and huge spaces every time Brighton attacked had me screaming for Endo and Diaz to be brought on.

I mentioned in my last article that I’ve noticed it’s often our attacking midfielder who initiates the press, which I kind of understand in theory as it leaves a bank of 3 behind him for the opposition to deal with after they’ve passed around the first man but the problem with it is that if the opposition do manage to beat the press, there’s so much space in our midfield behind the front three to then launch an attack from and that was a problem for the whole game until we scored. I feel a small tweak to the system is needed there.

Anyway, it had been a tough watch up to that point and felt like Groundhog Day as news filtered through that City were 2-0 down, while we continued to struggle and didn’t look like scoring. Slot eventually rang the changes and there was no messing about with the intent, as Jones and Diaz replaced Macca and Dom, meaning all our fit forwards were now on the pitch and the impact on the game was immediate.

The Gakpo goal had a degree of fortune about it I must admit but it highlights the importance of consistently putting quality crosses into dangerous areas, as you never know what can happen. At first glance I thought Nunez had headed it and was probably offside, however replays showed he made no contact with the ball and the cross went all the way in. Those ones are agonising for goalkeepers as they have to position themselves with the assumption the forward will make contact with the cross but when they miss it, the keeper is stranded in no man’s land. So a little much needed good fortune yes but I’ll take it and boy did we capitalise.

After watching 70 odd agonising, frustrating minutes, it only took two minutes to turn that agony into ecstasy. A quick counterattack involving some slick link up play from the recently introduced Jones, led to Salah finding himself one v one against Estupinan who up until that point had dealt very well with Salah all afternoon but on this occasion, it was some tired defending that allowed Salah to turn him, make space for himself on his left foot and emphatically curl the ball into the top corner. As soon as he’d made the space in that position I fancied him to finish, as its a finish he’ll practice multiple times every day in training and you could see it was bread and butter for him. He’d been pretty anonymous the entire game if truth be told but that’s why managers never sub players like Salah. They may do nothing all game but they’re still your most likely player to pop up with a goal and that winner is our most important goal of the season so far in my opinion.

Shortly after the goal I got my wish, as Nunez made way for Endo. Slot recognising that all out attack was no longer needed and less chaos, more control was now in order and I thought Endo was excellent when he came on, making us much more solid defensively as we held on for the win.

The good and the bad then. I think my favourite change in our team this season since Slot took over is our capacity to see out a one goal lead with relatively little fuss and today we probably looked more secure in the last 10-15 mins than we had the entire match to that point, despite the fact Brighton were chasing the game. We haven’t been able to regularly grind out wins when not playing well, or comfortably see out one goal leads since the season we won the PL and if you recall, grinding out scrappy 1-0 wins was a real feature of ours that season. Since then though, we’ve either not managed it or it’s been balls to the wall, panic stations defending doing it. This season you’ve literally been able to see the point where the decision is made to try and see out the game rather than push for another goal and we’ve looked much more controlled and composed doing it. It’s obviously something we’ve been practicing in training and it’s made a big difference.

The bad was there for all to see in the first two thirds of the game and it was a Deja vu performance that mirrored a number of poor displays in recent years. Passive and lacking any urgency or aggression to our game, poor misplaced passing preventing us gaining any kind of foothold in the game, while looking toothless in attack and shaky in defence. We didn’t even have the excuse of early kickoffs or European exertions today, as most of the team had a full week off and the game was played at the traditional Saturday 3pm time. It’s difficult to put your finger on where these lacklustre performances come from, especially in weeks where if anything we should have added motivation with our rivals dropping points but that’s a problem for Slot to figure out.

I also mentioned on the thread that sometimes coaches can overcomplicate the game and the stubbornness of sticking with your system or Plan A as it were, can end up costing you. I mentioned the gaps in our midfield, Brighton were cutting through us at will and we couldn’t gain any form of control in the game so bringing on a player of Endo’s skillset seemed so obvious to me and we saw the difference he made when he came on. I get the whole thing of wanting technical players in that holding position and when it works it looks great but not every game is the same and sometimes you just need to go back to basics and address the problems you are currently presented with. In this case, that was huge gaps in our midfield and none of our players seemingly able to slow down their attacks or put their foot on the ball, something Endo is tailor made for. I’ve said many times that I favour a specialist DM in my midfield and today demonstrated why. Stubbornness is only a good thing when it works but it’s something we see time and again in the modern game. Burnley last season and Southampton this season for example. They get battered every week, trying to play out from the back and pass their way through better teams when they’re not good enough to do it. Sticking to the manager’s style of play seemingly more important than the club getting relegated because of it. Madness to me but then what isn’t in the modern world.

What is worth remembering however, is that this is still 100% Klopp’s team. Many of us have been highly critical of the club for not getting Slot at least one or two of his own players over the summer, even if they were squad players he could bring on to control a game the way he wants. To that end, we can’t criticise the club for that but not acknowledge it when critiquing the manager. When you think about it, it actually makes the job he’s done up to now all the more astonishing when he doesn’t have a single player in the team that he picked himself. Eight wins, one draw and one defeat in his opening ten games has put us bang in this title race, when nobody really expected that. That alongside a 100% record in Europe, is a spectacular start for a manager who was making a significant step up in quality himself and the job he’s done can only be applauded.

Anyway, it was a game that put us through the emotional ringer as only football can but as always the result is the most important thing and as I said in my opening paragraph, the importance of this win cannot be overstated. We finally capitalise on our rivals faltering, gaining a comfortable 7 point lead over Arsenal in the process but psychologically I feel this is huge for the team. Losing at home to Brighton would’ve been a really tough one to take on a weekend where BOTH City and Arsenal lose unexpectedly and the fact it’s happened so frequently in recent years, is also something that would start to get in the players heads. There’s a long way to go but if we win the title this year, I’ll point to this game as a hugely important milestone in that journey.

First comeback win at Anfield in the league for Slot also ticks another box and the crowd helped the team today. We’ll need them again in the coming weeks and they need to play their part as well. Everything Liverpool have ever achieved is intrinsically linked with the special relationship with the fans and the importance of Anfield at key moments. Wins like today are how you build momentum though and galvanise the fans in the process. Klopp famously turned doubters into believers and up to now, Slot is slowly but surely doing the same. Only the most optimistic of Liverpool fans expected a title challenge this season but make no mistake, we’re bang in this race now and with the injuries City and Arsenal are currently dealing with, we have a real opportunity to take advantage this season.

Anyway, that’s enough from me for one night. Time to toast our victory and enjoy the rest of the weekend back where we belong – top of the league! Walk on!!