Liverpool are inside touching distance of the Champions League final 16.
A sixth straight win within the competitors this season, secured via Mohamed Salah’s penalty, controversially awarded after a VAR examine for a foul on Luis Diaz, tightened Arne Slot’s grip on first place within the league part.
This was removed from Liverpool’s finest show however Slot is unlikely to be involved. Here, we analyse the main speaking factors.
Was that actually a penalty?
The recreation’s key second got here simply after the hour when former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek was adjudged to have fouled Diaz within the field simply after the hour mark.
Initially, referee Benoit Bastien had not seen match to take any motion on Van de Beek, who had stood on Diaz’s heel, eradicating his boot, earlier than hooking his leg round Diaz from an ungainly angle.
(TNT Sports)
It regarded a delicate penalty, and was all of the extra shocking given Bastien had not taken motion on the sphere, however Salah made no mistake from the spot, sending Paulo Gazzaniga the improper approach.
The determination mirrored a scrappy recreation however Liverpool won’t care. With the membership’s progress to the final 16 virtually assured, Slot ought to have some leeway to rotate his facet of their last two fixtures, providing essential respite throughout a busy January: in the event that they progress within the Carabao Cup subsequent week in opposition to Southampton n the quarter-finals, they’ll have eight fixtures that month. Rotation will probably be key to maintain gamers recent and keep away from accidents.
In a assured and composed method, Liverpool have put themselves in a cushty place.
Nunez fluffs his massive probability
The sight of Diogo Jota collaborating in first-team coaching was welcome for everybody at Liverpool. Well, virtually everybody.
The Portugal worldwide, who has been lacking for the reason that begin of October, is because of return to motion quickly and for Darwin Nunez, which may not be excellent news.
During Jota’s absence, Nunez has rotated with Diaz within the No 9 position however has struggled to stake a declare for an everyday beginning spot. The Uruguay worldwide has proven moments of promise and has improved his work charge off the ball, however he has continued to be irritating in entrance of aim.
Against Girona, it was one other a kind of nights that instructed a participant is lurking in there someplace, solely to go away everybody upset.
It was summed up by a promising counter-attack that noticed a ball loop up in direction of him seven yards out from aim. He might have directed it goalwards or laid it off to one in every of his team-mates, however he obtained the header all improper, barely brushing it, and the assault got here to nothing.
There have been additionally two one-on-one misses within the first half. Both have been created with some good preliminary motion, however on every event, Nunez failed to use the of completion, with Gazzaniga capable of save.
(TNT Sports)
The confidence appeared to maintain draining out of Nunez across the penalty field as the sport went on and he minimize a disconsolate determine as he made approach for Cody Gakpo within the 71st minute.
He will know that Jota will quickly have the possibility to reestablish himself as Liverpool’s first-choice centre-forward.
Alisson again with a bang
If Alisson hoped for a quiet return to motion following a two-month lay-off, Girona had different concepts.
The Brazilian goalkeeper had not performed since struggling a hamstring damage in opposition to Crystal Palace in the beginning of October however was match sufficient for his first begin in Spain and confirmed no indicators of rustiness in opposition to a energetic dwelling group.
His first save got here when he denied Bryan Gil, who was following up Daley Blind’s miskick from a few yards out. Two minutes later, Alisson, 32, was in motion once more to disclaim Gil, though the Girona attacker would most likely have been known as offside if he had scored. Alejandro Frances and Yaser Asprilla additionally examined Alisson within the first half.
The saves underlined why Slot feels Alisson is his No 1 goalkeeper, regardless of Caoimhin Kelleher’s fantastic type whereas he has been out, though the top coach might not have been completely happy to see him so closely exercised.
Alisson was again in motion (Manaure Quintero/AFP through Getty Images)
Defensively, Liverpool have been uncovered by Girona’s pacy counter-attacks. They struggled to retain a compact form and their management was misplaced after they ceded possession. Girona ought to have scored within the first half and have been let down by poor ending within the second, too, notably when Arnaut Danjuma blazed over after bursting into the world. The former Bournemouth winger additionally had a shot saved by Alisson earlier within the second interval.
This did no less than finish a run of 4 consecutive away video games the place Liverpool have conceded no less than two objectives, though the defensive frailties nonetheless confirmed themselves. Without the injured Ibrahima Konate, work is required to resemble the formidable defensive outfit they have been away from dwelling in the beginning of the season.
Alisson was additionally known as into motion to dam Bryan Gil’s effort (Josep Lago/AFP through Getty Images)
“I stated as a joke that possibly the gamers needed to see how match he actually was, so to offer him a lot work,” Slot stated afterwards. “Alisson confirmed once more right now why I stated so many instances that he’s our first goalkeeper and why he is likely one of the finest or, in my view, the perfect on the planet.”
What did Slot say?
Liverpool’s head coach was removed from completely happy together with his group’s efficiency, accusing his gamers of missing depth.
“If you play in opposition to a group that has such a good suggestion about soccer, it’s essential to be so intense if you wish to make it tough for them,” Slot stated. “But if you’re ready just a few seconds to press them then this group could cause you quite a lot of issues. I virtually really feel sorry for them as they deserve a lot extra.
“We have an unimaginable goalkeeper. But the opposite factor is each time we misplaced the ball, we weren’t aggressive sufficient they usually might go virtually all the best way to our aim and have a shot. We had hardly any management at everywhere in the recreation.
“Maybe the second half was a bit higher – I’m making an attempt to be constructive. But in the beginning of the second half for possibly the primary 5 or 10 minutes they went on a counter-attack one or two instances.
“It wasn’t at all times straightforward for us to press them effectively however I don’t assume it had that a lot to do with techniques. In basic we have been by far not aggressive sufficient with out the ball.”
What subsequent for Liverpool?
Saturday, December 14: Fulham (dwelling), Europa League, 3pm UK, 10am ET
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(Top photograph: Josep Lago/AFP through Getty Images))
