The First Break In The Action
It’s been three games and three wins for the Reds to start the season. Unfortunately, this momentum has been put on hold with the customary international break. The 100% record doesn’t tell the whole story, though. It’s been the standard whirlwind of ebbs and flows that constitutes a Liverpool match throughout. One thing’s for sure, though, the Premier League is back! More importantly, Liverpool has played their part in making the opening weeks one of the most memorable in recent memory, flaws and all.
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The Good
The attack looks as slick as ever, with Hugo Ekitike proving to be the standout of the new signings. The improvement in both link-up and hold-up play is evident. It’s been a trial by fire with the opening three fixtures being some of the toughest in the league. Florian Wirtz, despite not registering a goal or assist, has shown flashes on the attack. Nevertheless, the German has been excellent off the ball. His positioning in the Liverpool press is the primary positive to start the season for him.
Virgil van Dijk doesn’t look like he’s lost a step. He had a colossal performance away to Newcastle and against Arsenal at Anfield. Dominik Szoboszlai has managed to show his versatility by playing at a very high level through the attacking midfield, holding midfield, and at right-back. The trio og games was capped off with an absolute stunner of a free-kick to win the game against Arsenal.
For all the detractors towards Liverpool’s performances, it’s still an excellent start to the season. 9 points out of a possible 9 is the best you could ask for. Growing pains are to be expected given the integration of new players into the starting eleven. But the Reds did enough to ensure that this did not affect the results on the pitch.
The Bad
The previously mentioned growing pains are admittedly a cause for concern. The games against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and the Community Shield curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace highlight Liverpool’s vulnerability in transition. Common sense would probably consider this a symptom of integrating new players into the shape, particularly the back line. Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Dominik Szoboszlai (in an unfamiliar full-back role) were all added to the defensive setup.
The win against Arsenal saw some defensive improvements in comparison to the first two games, but if the Reds are to reach their goals this season, this shouldn’t be more than a blip on the radar. Kerkez, in particular, is a player who is on the minds of every Liverpool fan to start the season. He looked like a player thrown into the deep end in his games against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Newcastle. The particulars of playing left-back in Arne Slot’s defensive line are something the Hungarian is still getting used to.
It’s worth noting that Kerkez is only 21 years old and Liverpool is the biggest move of his career. Lest we forget, he was selected for last year’s Premier League team of the season. Getting on our panic stations would be premature, and it would be more likely that he eventually gets accustomed to the role and excels.
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Finally, Florian Wirtz hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire to start his Liverpool career. This isn’t the end of the world. As mentioned, he has looked good in Liverpool’s off-the-ball setup. However, there is the expectation of delivering immediately, being one of the most expensive signings in the history of the sport. I strongly believe that Wirtz will come good, but his mediocre start just goes to show that adapting to the Premier League isn’t as easy a task as some people make it out to be.
A Lot To Look Forward To!
In my opinion, Liverpool’s start to the season has been a little too exciting, with two out of the three Liverpool victories requiring last-minute winners due to two-goal leads being squandered. At the end of the day, a win’s a win. Arne Slot has likely already identified the problems in the current setup and is working to fix them. The saying goes that title-winning sides find a way to win games even when they are not at their best. Let’s be real, the Reds haven’t been their sparkling best to start the year, but have managed to get three wins out of three games.
With the further addition of Alexander Isak and as the new players get more accustomed to Slot’s style, the Reds are essentially in a very exciting position. They boast an elite squad in which the sky’s the limit. Rivals absolutely have to take advantage of this feeling-out process because when Liverpool eventually figures things out, the league better beware.