Jurgen Klopp's side can forget about a title challenge after losing at Arsenal – at this rate they'll do well to get top four
Forget the Premier League title, Liverpool will face an uphill battle to even finish in the top four this season. The Reds’ nightmare start to the campaign reached a new low on Sunday, beaten 3-2 by table-topping Arsenal, who move 14 points ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s side as a consequence.
Liverpool, who remain without an away win this season, certainly had their chances at the Emirates, twice levelling through Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino, but eventually succumbed to Bukayo Saka’s 76th-minute penalty, after a careless foul by Thiago Alcantara.
This is now the Reds’ worst start to a campaign in 10 years. They have dropped points in six of their first eight league games, and have only scored first in one of them. They conceded inside a minute here, Gabriel Martinelli firing home, and though they showed spirit to fight back, poor defending and a lack of punch in the final third cost them once more.
For Klopp, who saw Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold forced off with injury and substituted the out-of-sorts Mohamed Salah, the questions are mounting.
This is Liverpool, but not as we know them…
Getty ImagesThe Winners
Darwin Nunez:
The overriding theme of the day from a Liverpool perspective was a negative one, but there was certainly a positive to be found in the performance of their big-money centre-forward. For starters, Nunez picked up his first goal since the opening weekend of the campaign, and a well-taken one at that. The Uruguayan's movement is good, and his anticipation was excellent as he positioned himself perfectly to slide in Luis Diaz's cross to make it 1-1. He had already served notice of his threat, forcing Aaron Ramsdale into an early save and then getting in behind again to send in a low cross which William Saliba almost turned into his own net. He completed 90 minutes for the first time since his move from Benfica, and clearly there is a player there, even if he faded in the second half and even if Klopp still needs to find a system which enables his attacking stars to shine while retaining some semblance of control in the middle of the field. Not a good day for Liverpool, but another step forward for Nunez.
Roberto Firmino:
There's something about the sight of Arsenal which brings out the best of Firmino in the penalty area, and so it proved again here. The Brazilian has scored more goals against the Gunners than he has any other side, and he took his tally to 10 here with a clinical left-footed finish, having been played in by Diogo Jota's astute pass. Firmino had started on the bench, somewhat surprisingly, but was called upon before half-time after Diaz was forced off, and left his mark on the game. He remains Liverpool's leading goalscorer this season, though perhaps that in itself says something about his team's struggles.
Jurgen Klopp's eye for a player:
You don't have to dig to deep to find out what Jurgen Klopp thinks of Gabriel Martinelli, and there will have been a wry smile from the Liverpool boss at the way Arsenal's Brazilian star ripped his side apart here. Martinelli, clearly, is a player on the up. He looks, in fact, like the kind of player Liverpool would enjoy, full of running, full of quality and, at 21, with so much potential to get even better. What a scary thought that is. He needed less than a minute to make his mark, finishing clinically from Odegaard's pass, and it was his pace and awareness which created Saka's goal for 2-1, right on the stroke of half time. Liverpool removed Trent Alexander-Arnold at half-time – although that may have been partly down to the whack the England man took on his ankle when trying to block a cross – which told its own tale. His replacement, Joe Gomez, had a similarly torrid time against Martinelli, whose running power and ability to go either way with the ball at his feet makes him such a slippery customer. "The talent of the century," Klopp once called him. How he'd love a player like Martinelli to help kickstart his own team right now.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers
Mohamed Salah:
It was a day for attackers, but the most high-profile one on display endured an afternoon to forget. While Gabriel Martinelli, Darwin Nunez, Bukayo Saka and Roberto Firmino found themselves in the thick of the action, and on the scoresheet too, Salah was very much on the periphery, and didn't it show? Up against Takehiro Tomiyasu, a makeshift left-back, the Egyptian was replaced more than 20 minutes from the end, having barely had a sniff. He managed only one shot and only one touch in the Arsenal penalty area, kept away from goal and away from the action. He netted a penalty against Rangers on Tuesday, but he hasn't scored in the Premier League since August, and Liverpool need him to rediscover his sparkle soon. Without him firing, the Reds are missing an awful lot.
Trent Alexander-Arnold:
Another swing on the Trent-o-meter, and this time in the negative direction. Having suffered against Brighton and shone against Rangers, this was another difficult afternoon for the full-back, who turned 24 earlier this week. The battle between Alexander-Arnold and Gabriel Martinelli was billed, pre-match, as key, and the Arsenal man needed less than a minute to strike the first blow, ghosting in behind on the blind side to sweep home Odegaard's pass. If that hurt, so did the blow he took on the ankle attempting to block a Martinelli cross. He did well to soldier on, in fairness, but he might have wished he hadn't when Martinelli ran at Jordan Henderson just before half-time. Alexander-Arnold was there on the cover, but unwisely chose to charge across to help his captain, allowing the Arsenal man to cut back inside and cross low for Saka. That was Alexander-Arnold's last action. He was replaced by Gomez at half time. We wait to see how bad the damage to his ankle is, but Klopp may have even contemplated leaving him out against Rangers on Wednesday regardless. He's a class act, but his form right now is anything but reliable.
Luis Diaz:
This was a damaging day for Liverpool, in more ways than one. Sure, the defeat stings, but the sight of yet another key player leaving the field injured will have Klopp tearing his hair out. Diaz has been the Reds' best player so far this season, and it was the Colombian who helped drag them back into this game too. His sharpness got him away down the right, and his cross was perfect for Nunez to level at 1-1. But his afternoon was done soon after, after he collided with Thomas Partey and having initially attempted to play on, had to admit defeat and was replaced by Roberto Firmino. A knee injury, it turns out. He left the Emirates wearing a brace and using crutches. "Not good," said Klopp. With so many of his stars out of form, he can ill-afford to lose one of the ones who is actually playing well.
Getty ImagesLiverpool Ratings: Defence
Alisson Becker (6/10):
Left exposed twice in the first half and was punished both times. Was one of the few to keep his cool throughout, but helpless to stop Saka from the spot. One moment of indecision at the end with Van Dijk.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (4/10):
Undone by some good Martinelli movement for the Arsenal opener. His ball forward led to the equaliser at 1-1 but he then went walkabout for Arsenal's second. Taken off at half-time having taken a blow to the ankle.
Joel Matip (5/10):
A few dodgy passes into midfield, and struggled to clear his lines effectively. Replaced by Konate.
Virgil van Dijk (5/10):
Generally OK, though his radar with long passes was off. Important work at the start of the second half to deny Saka. Looks far less dominant than in recent years, and his team are suffering as a result. Late hesitancy over a long ball summed it up.
Kostas Tsimikas (5/10):
Struggled to get the balance between attack and defence right, and was second best against Saka. Lacked composure.
Getty ImagesMidfield
Jordan Henderson (6/10):
Looked edgy at first but settled as Liverpool took control. Then caught out over-committing against Martinelli for Arsenal's second goal. Kept plugging away throughout, but couldn't keep control of the game.
Thiago Alcantara (6/10):
Got a grip of the game after the shock of the opening goal, but was beaten too easily for the second goal and then made some sloppy mistakes in the second half, culminating with the concession of the penalty.