Liverpool’s struggles continue as Isak fades, Wirtz pads the stats, and Salah’s form sparks new debate
Even though Liverpool triumphed 5-1, there are still questions, and the most obliging of patsies in Eintracht Frankfurt are just delivering a temporary solution.
The fact that the game’s first goal came after pundit Darren Fletcher declared that “this is the first time we’ve seen Frankfurt get the ball forward for a while” after the German team broke the press and reached halfway in the 26th minute says little about Liverpool’s tenacity and defensive positioning.
A zipping ball into midfield, a few deft passes from seasoned player Mario Gotze to tie the move together, and a spectacular driven finish through Andy Robertson’s legs and in off the post by former Leeds full-back Rasmus Kristensen made it a beautiful one.
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However, there was a huge gap in Liverpool’s midfield. The usual candidates for that position are Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister, neither of whom began tonight, but they won’t be too worried about losing their starting positions due to Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai’s efforts to stop Frankfurt’s attack.
As they charged at the player with the ball and ignored Gotze in his advantageous position to aid Kristensen, they were getting closer to tackling one another.
The 3-1 halftime score indicates that Liverpool came back strong, and in a way they did, but largely because of some dreadful defending from a team that has already let up 29 goals in ten Bundesliga and Champions League games this season.
On matchday two, Atletico Madrid defeated Arsenal 5-1 after losing 4-0 on Tuesday.
Each of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk scored from an inswinging corner, that moment was like a technique that has been practiced before coming to the match, the konate header goal came with full force that the keeper cannot even help than to stand still and watch the ball score.
The fact that both of their deliveries were excellent shouldn’t be the only thing that makes a goal inevitable.
With a sigh, the Frankfurt defenders raised their arms, wondering what in the world they were expected to do: “Mark them?! NO.
Hugo Ekitike had already tied the score for Liverpool with a goal that, in terms of “just shouldn’t happen” for a Champions League football side, would rate near the top.
After a Frankfurt assault failed, Robertson played a straight pass from inside his own box, and Ekitike’s finish beneath Michael Zetterer found the back of the net seven seconds later.
It was pitiful in a time when managers are preoccupied with the perils of transition, both in attack and defence.
Ekitike performed his role flawlessly, displaying blistering speed to go in behind, a brilliant touch to remove Robin Koch from the game, and a self-assured finish beneath the goalie after Robertson’s superb assist.
The quality of the goals in the second half will also excite Slot, in part because Florian Wirtz broke his assist record and make Liverpool fans happy by first sliding the ball across for Cody Gakpo at the back post and then playing a five-yard ball for Dominik Szoboslzai to slam in from the edge of the box.
Again, though, it was quite simple. After finding himself in acres of space on the right, Wirtz made a pass that Ally McCoist was all too happy to praise as excellent, but if he hadn’t found Gakpo, it would have been a complete mess. Szoboszlai’s low stinger was preceded by a dreadful defensive header.
Liverpool may have gained some vital confidence before their Sunday trip to Brentford, and we well understand that they could only defeat their opponents.
But we can’t think of a single issue that has surfaced in the past month that this 5-1 demolition has resolved.
At halftime, Steve McManaman was questioning “whether it’s an injury or if they’re just being conservative with his fitness,” but he neglected to consider the fact that Alexander Isak had missed two more opportunities and had not added anything noteworthy to the team.
When Frankfurt took the lead, the midfield was evaded and the defence was exposed.
When Mohamed Salah entered the game, he appeared as unfocused in front of goal as he has been in recent weeks.
He also failed to win over Wirtz by shooting from a close angle instead of squaring it for the German to score his first goal for Liverpool. The return of the avaricious Salah is not encouraging.
