Liverpool delivered an uneasy, stomach-turning efficiency to place everybody inside Anfield via the motions in opposition to West Ham, however bought the job carried out.
Liverpool 2-1 West Ham
Premier League (32) | Anfield
April 13, 2024
Targets: Diaz 18 ′, Van Dijk 89 ′ | Robertson (OG) 86 ′
1. Salah leads however others should comply with
Throughout the opening phases Jamie Carragher lauded Mo Salah on commentary, saying the Egyptian was taking part in “like he’s in coaching, making an attempt issues”, and he was proper.
Salah took to the sport like a person who was not solely buoyed by his new eye-watering contract, but additionally eager to show he completely deserves it.
It’s a attribute that underpins Salah. He all the time needs to be one of the best, needs to show he can do greater than his marker, needs to blot the ultimate little bit of ink on the web page that concludes one other Liverpool win.
Right here he was full of life and threatening, along with his motion and incisive through-ball to Luis Diaz simply majestic. Liverpool have performed a blinder in getting Salah nailed right down to new phrases, whereas additionally making certain a hefty portion of his new contract is incentive-based. There isn’t any doubting that the Reds can be coughing up insane cash… as a result of Salah can be hitting these incentives.
The problem Liverpool now face nonetheless is getting the workforce to fireside whilst Salah falters. Within the second half the Egyptian, like his team-mates, went off the boil. Legs are heavy at this level within the lengthy season, however others must step as much as the plate.
Sadio Mane did it so effectively and eased the burden on Liverpool’s No.11, and now it’s time for others to comply with this lead.
2. Alisson is the world’s finest, however he’s being let down
Nothing in opposition to Caoimhin Kelleher, who stays an excellent choice for Liverpool and proficient past his years – however right here Alisson as soon as once more proved he’s one of the best stopper within the recreation.
All of us too typically take it without any consideration, however Alisson pulls off saves that almost all keepers simply wouldn’t entertain. Because the Reds began to get leggy within the second half, Alisson was there time and time once more, bearing down on the assured Jarrod Bowen to beat balls away, whereas screaming at his lacklustre again line.
After which, simply because it felt prefer it was coming, the own-goal trickled via in essentially the most pathetic of circumstances. Liverpool can not hold driving their luck on this approach, hoping Alisson will bail them out whereas steadily providing much less and fewer.
The second half understandably riled up Arne Slot, who may sense the fixture slipping away from his males. Alisson stays a relentless, a god-send. Virgil van Dijk will acquire a portion of the headlines for salvaging one thing on the demise, however right here a Brazilian goalkeeper confirmed 62,000 what an elite degree efficiency seems like.
3. Arne Slot is a unique breed
Again in the summertime, had you given any supervisor the hypothetical state of affairs that they might take over Jurgen Klopp and surge Liverpool straight to the title, they’d probably have been giddy on the prospect, doubtlessly punch-drunk on an on the spot ego-kick.
Not Slot. Make no mistake, the Dutchman desperately needs this season to finish with Liverpool being topped champions of England, however the way in which he’s going about it and holding himself all through proceedings speaks main volumes.
Prowling the touchline, continually demanding, endlessly tinkering and easing his gamers into new openings. Slot isn’t seeing this as a shot-in-the-arm thrill of a runaway season, however quite the start of crafting a soccer workforce right into a critically damaging machine. His response after Van Dijk nodded the winner stated all of it – violently punching the air earlier than instantly barking out the command of focus, tapping his temple repeatedly.
Slot calls for one of the best as a result of he’s each a very smart man, and obsessive about soccer. The latter half is quite prescient, because it has by no means been misplaced on the Reds boss that he has been bestowed among the best and most versatile squads in world soccer.
It will likely be added to in the summertime, and must be given the style during which Liverpool are tailing off in matches. However Slot needs this, badly, and these three factors will imply every thing.
4. Switch audition?
The contract extension of Salah was the one factor all Kopite’s craved and, although Liverpool bought it carried out, they nonetheless stay a really pro-active membership. And meaning planning for tomorrow is all the time in progress.
Salah’s succession plan is an enormous level of focus within the interior sanctum of the Anfield war-room, and targets are continually being drawn up and analysed. One in every of which is most definitely an athlete who was on present within the type of Mohammed Kudus.
The Ghanaian was tracked by Liverpool previous to his change to the Premier League, and has now very a lot confirmed he can reduce the mustard within the English high flight. His tantalising lob mid-way via the primary half, which just about caught Alisson unawares and clipped the crossbar, was a well timed reminder of each his method and imaginative and prescient.
Kudus, at 24, is a critical footballer with an achieved skill-set who has many extra years of elite degree teaching forward of him to make him into an excellent higher and extra refined remaining product. Given hypothesis over the way forward for Luis Diaz by no means appears to go away, maybe the identify of Kudus might be on the lips of Liverpool followers once more sooner quite than later.
5. Anfield remembers its position
Whether or not folks prefer it or not, in latest weeks Anfield has not performed its half. The well-known floor has been uncharacteristically subdued, reluctant to burst into life in customary trend.
It occurs, after all, an atmospheric lull, through the run of a season… however when Liverpool are gunning for a Premier League title this merely must be current through the run-in, no excuses.
And fortunately, it was. As Liverpool ploughed ahead, the roars got here. Descending down from the highest of the Kop earlier than rolling to the underside and crashing over onto the pitch; a wall of noise demanding the troops in crimson go pedal to the medal and inflict distress upon the guests.
It was wanted, given the second half demise and the style during which the Reds stood on the cusp of throwing this one away. The stands have been filled with nerves, little question, however the supporters rallied behind the trigger and dragged the gamers over the road.
That is excessive stakes and that is historical past in real-time. Liverpool wanted 9 factors to clinch the league title going into this fixture; that determine is now six. The perch is able to be climbed atop as soon as extra, and this Liverpool workforce totally deserve it – however Anfield must proceed taking part in its position in getting them there.
