Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp attempted to change things up against Chelsea but two calls didn’t make much sense. Against Arsenal, four decisions must be made.
There was a clear question that Jürgen Klopp might have wanted to address when Liverpool attempted and failed to score against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with the home team, in fɑct, frequently appearing to be the more likely to find the breakthrough.
Liverpool were lucky not to lose against Chelsea
If Liverpool had a chance to score, who exactly was going to score? Even though Diogo Jota has been healthy for months, he has not exhibited any signs of confidence. Roberto Firmino had a strong stretch early in the season, but that was a while ago. Darwin Nunez could be justified, but Klopp effectively disregarded that argument by removing him.
Instead, Liverpool’s main goal threɑt and best outfield player was left on the bench for a long period, with Mohamed Salah not introduced to the game until 65 minutes had elapsed.
Salah was only allowed to enter the field for the last 30 minutes
Salah never misses a game and came off with 20 minutes left against Manchester City on Saturday. Andy Robertson was taken off at the same time, with it assumed by most that the reason was rotation ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Yet both were benched in London. And when it was clear that Liverpool was looking unlikely to score, and Kostas Tsimikas was having a torrid time at left-back, still Salah and Robertson were not introduced until the pattern of the game was set and both sides risked losing by going all out for a late winner.
Tsimikas makes Liverpool fans miss Robertson
While Nunez would have needed to dribble past a few players and then score on his own if the magic was to come from him, neither Jota nor Firmino appeared likely to score. Nonetheless, the sooner Jota can find a way to end his drought and give himself a major lift, the better.
Even if Virgil van Dijk’s illness could not be prevented, the Liverpool ɑttack could not gel, and the fullbacks appeared to be a ghоst of what was needed. The decision to move three of the back four clearly did not pay off.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has had a difficult season, but Joe Gomez never looked likely to be able to create something and there was no relationship down the right-hand side between him and Jota. That is fine when the rest of the side is performing well and able to compensate, but at the moment, that simply is not the case.
Joe Gomez can’t connect with ɑttackers compared to Arnold
The delay in introducing both Robertson and Salah baffled plenty and understandably so, with Liverpool needing its regulars in those positions well before they were added to the mix.
In conjunction with swapping Cody Gakpo back in for Firmino and Alexander-Arnold being restored to the backline, there is no doubt that Liverpool should have those four decisions already locked in ahead of Arsenal.
Curtis Jones did enough in midfield to perhaps suggest he could retain his place — as much because of a lack of other options as anything else — though Thiago Alcântara could return to training this week.
Liverpool need to change before thinking about the story that surprιsed Arsenal
Liverpool did not perform acceptably in the defeat at Manchester City, but of the six changes Klopp made at Chelsea, few, if any, truly paid off. For starters, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Gakpo and Salah need to return on Sunday, at the least.
