Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Liverpool 2 Monaco 3 at Anfield, as part of the 26/27 pre-season…
FOR a second game in a row in this pre-season there is, essentially, two games. One happens when Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are on the pitch. The other happens when they are not.
It is important to say – Liverpool aren’t brilliant in all phases in game one. For instance when the soft penalty is given, it has been coming. Or more accurately Liverpool’s intensity with and without the ball had dropped to the extent they were waiting for it.
Szoboszlai had given it away two or three times. One in particular should have been punished but Monaco made a pig’s ear of the easiest counter they never managed to have the ball under control in Liverpool’s final third, let alone muster a shot. No matter. Golovin leapt and clipped van Dijk’s lazy leg like a hurdler doing 2m 1f at Haydock and the referee obliged.
But Liverpool have focus when the big two are on the pitch. Neither can be kept out of the action. Isak just wants the ball constantly. He cannot believe he isn’t being played in on every occasion. Other choices may be available but he isn’t up for people taking any of them. He wants it and he is constantly testing the line.
Wirtz played very high again but was able to get on it constantly. He is so bright and finds space. He is always making himself available and he is being found. He is making things make sense.
The manager has been brought in to get the best out of 9 & 10. Or in Liverpool parlance 9 & 7. My god, this looks a Liverpool 9 & 7. He is nailing that.
Lewis Koumas is effective first-half and Ifeanyi Ndukwe impresses again. The centre-mid two don’t look ideal but Ryan Gravenberch carries it well and Dominik Szoboszlai backs up play well.
Out of possession interesting things are happening. Jeremie Frimpong is going one hell of a long way with Alexander Golovin which is quite a gamble in that a lot of grass is left behind. There is a bit of this – in certain phases Liverpool will follow their men a long way and then suddenly that ends. Frimpong attacks well when he has the chance.
Through the first-half there is a lot of audible Virgil van Dijk and Eric Dier. Van Dijk wants everyone to make the pitch bigger and the first goal comes from him sending it in behind Monaco’s high line for Cody Gakpo to chase.
The finish from Isak is tremendous but is just what he does. Keep finding him in space in the penalty area and he will finish. He arguably should get a second and may actually get a second but the scramble is given to his partner.
In the first-half Gakpo is very good; interchanging expertly with Wirtz and Isak. It’s a timely reminder that he is an actual elite footballer. He is probably the current Liverpool player best placed to cover Florian Wirtz and it not be a concern. He is probably the player best served to cover Alexander Isak and that is a concern.
What we see in the second-half is your greatest strength be your greatest weakness – the manager has been brought in to get the best out of 9 & 10. Or in Liverpool parlance 9 & 7. And then there was none.
Szoboszlai is dreadful there. Because it is not being the most advanced midfielder but being the least advanced forward. Koumas and latterly Federico Chiesa barely kick it in the role. Victor Munoz can’t get in it but looks electric for the split second he can. Rio Ngumoha does get on the ball but only Frimpong makes himself available for him.
It’s interesting the manager perseveres with Koumas and then Chiesa at centre-forward and doesn’t use Munoz there.
The second game is painless, bloodless, joyless stuff from The Reds. Everyone is trying and everyone knows their role but that doesn’t help. At one point Chiesa wins it back and feeds Elliott but both may as well be a million miles away from the opposition goal for all the damage they can do.
What do you do? What do you say? Everyone is imperfect at this stage of the season but Monaco finish the game far the stronger and shall we compare budgets? Both of our seasons start in two weeks.
There is just so much to be excited by. All the verticality, all the quality, all the backpost headers and penalty box runs.
This could be a terrific Liverpool season. It could be. But there are a lot of questions still.
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