Liverpool won without many tremors against Arsenal 3-1 thanks in part to a goal from their latest recruit Diogo Jota. A goalscorer, Lacazette may still have some regrets.
The shock of this third day of the Premier League, Liverpool hosted Arsenal tonight in an Anfield behind closed doors. Winner of his first two matches against Leeds and Chelsea, the defending champion had the opportunity to continue this good start to the season against a team that is slowly reborn. Klopp had warned that Thiago Alcantara would not play again before the international break. He then circularized Keita in the middle to accompany Fabinho and Wijnaldum and we found the same magical trio in front of Salah-Firmino-Mané. On the other side, Arteta opted for a surprising composition, preferring to line up David Luiz rather than Gabriel, who started on the bench in central defense, and Elneny in the midfield in place of Ceballos. In this 3-4-3, Willian and Aubameyang played with Lacazette to try to bring back a result.
The start of the match offered a trend that would continue almost throughout the match. Quickly, the Reds occupied the attacking half and circulated a ball that was constantly eluding Arsenal. The London defense soon suffered, resisting a little by a miracle, like this intervention of the head of David Luiz (12th) and this stop at point-blank range of Leno on Mané (15th). Alexander-Arnold’s rebound crashed over the bar (21st), when Wijnaldum’s was in Leno’s hands (24th). Arsenal was still alive in that game and even had the luxury of opening the scoring on their first actionable ball. From the center circle, Lacazette handed over to Maitland-Niles following Xhaka’s opener and took advantage of Robertson’s missed clearance to deceive Alisson (0-1, 25th).
Jota’s first successful entry
The success was maximum but the advantage lasted exactly 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Shifted to the side, Salah played Tierney to infiltrate the surface and strike. Leno could only divert the leather to Mané, who pushed into the empty goal (1-1, 28th). The Liverpool whirlwind didn’t stop in such a good way. He even offered us a classic, Alexander-Arnold cross for Robertson, and the left-back made up for it to give his team a well-deserved advantage (2-1, 34th). Just before the break, a slight offside from Willian (43rd) reminded the Reds that they had not yet taken cover in this game. A new alarm sounded when Lacazette escaped ball to the foot in the back of the defense, before being flagged offside in turn (59th).
The next one was the right one for the former Lyon player but this time he lost his duel against an Alisson who remained on his back for a long time (63rd). The Brazilian goalkeeper saved his own from the penalty because, in the other area, the opportunities were also chained but never managed to reach the net. Mané had failed the first time (49th), then a second time (64th), when Van Dijk tried from distance (62nd). It was finally the entry of Diogo Jota that would make things happen one last time on the scoreboard. For his first appearance, the Portuguese allowed himself an impressive first acceleration without succeeding in concluding (82nd) and then missing the frame (83rd). He finally managed to score following this poor clearance from David Luiz (3-1, 88th), offering a wider success, which suffers no challenge.
Man of the match: Sadio Mané (7.5): warned after only three minutes for an elbow on Tierney, the “Senegalese genius” according to Stéphane Guy, had a fire in his legs. Tonic, he managed to make differences in powerful supports and sometimes daring gestures (65th). Scorer (28th), he could even have afforded a double with more success (64th). He also deposited an excellent ball for Firmino (75′) and hampered the defense on Liverpool’s second goal (34′). Replaced by Jota (80th) who played his first minutes with his new club. The Portuguese had time to make the first acceleration where he did not make the right choice (82nd), then missed the frame after this huge work of Salah (83rd). He ended up scoring with a nice sequence (88th).
Liverpool:
- Alisson (6.5): He had absolutely nothing to do in the first half, except to concede a somewhat lucky goal from Lacazette on which he is surprised by the rebound (24th). In the second half, however, he was more distinguished, saving his own ahead of Lacazette (63rd). A real turning point in the game. The goalkeeper also made some valuable outings outside the box.
- Alexander-Arnold (7): a quality right foot always magnificent as on this center to Van Dijk (12th) and then Mané (15th), before being rewarded with this decisive ball for his left-hand side Robertson (34th). His strike on that poorly cleared corner by Arsenal would have deserved best spell (21st). He deserted his side on Lacazette’s goal (25th) and committed an inconsequential foul (63rd). Warned (49th).
- Gomez (6): The defender is always the victim of a certain nonchalance that plays tricks sometimes (14th) but he has achieved a consistent overall performance. The England international has mastered his subject, clearing Arsenal’s rare attacks (50th). Instead, he gave satisfaction, not seeking to complicate the task.
- Van Dijk (6.5): his long balls hurt the opponent again (19th, 51st). Liverpool’s first goal went from his feet. A little surprised by Arsenal’s counter-attack on Lacazette’s goal (25th), the central defender was able to make differences in both penalty areas. His framed header caused a wave of panic in the Gunners’ defense (12th).
- Robertson (6): As usual, he occupied his corridor largely, regularly bringing the nickname. The problem, he had a hard time getting to the technical level. Its centers have rarely found a buyer. Worse, he was guilty of a terrible mistake that allowed Lacazette to open the scoring (25th). But the Scot quickly made up for it by giving his side the lead (34th).
- Wijnaldum (5.5): We didn’t see much of him tonight but he was still valuable to his team. A strike too soft (24th) but the Dutchman made efforts that we do not always see, where he slides, takes the depth, and presses when it is necessary. We must also recognize a certain sense of timing like this good ball in space for Mané (48th).
- Fabinho (7): Time is moving forward and the Brazilian is increasingly asserting himself as an essential element of the English champion. The lowest midfielder lined up on the pitch, he recovered a lot of balls. Very safe with the ball, he tried to find solutions forward, not hesitating to take risks in the axis. The former Monegasque did not hesitate to set foot also (58th, 67th).
- Keïta (6.5): Holder as since the beginning of the season, the Guinean had a good game tonight. Very mobile, he offered many solutions to his partners, always asking for the ball and putting his own in good situations. Mané took advantage (15th), as did Wijnaldum (24th). It is also on one of his runs, which ends on a favorable counter, that the second goal comes (34th). The middle disappeared a little after that. Replaced by Milner (79′).
- Salah (6.5): difficult to judge his meeting because the Egyptians has generally been discreet. He was not seen much with the ball but twice he deposited his direct opponents on both goals of his own (28th, 34th). We also saw him involve the dry cleaners and make two defensive returns that helped out well. The winger disappeared in the second half, before signaling with this perfect offering for the incoming Jota (83rd).
- Firmino (4): it’s kind of the black spot of this evening in Liverpool. The attacker will have been one or two tones below his partners. He tried little and didn’t achieve much, like this so clever chest delivery that fails by a hair (41st). The Brazilian has often put himself at the service of the collective and had almost nothing opportunity to get under the tooth (75th). He still hasn’t scored this season. Replaced by Minamino (90th – 1).
- Mané (7.5): see above.
Arsenal
- Leno (6): A reflex save in front of Sadio Mané prevented an early opening of the score (15th), then saved by his bar on a missile by Alexander-Arnold (21st). Despite his save in front of Salah, he could not prevent Mané from resuming victoriously (28th). He made the necessary saves and outings to avoid the score in the second half but had to give in late in the game against Diogo Jota (88th).
- Holding (5): Well-inspired, he started his match with a good tackle on a Robertson cross (11th). His performance did not sweat serenity, especially when relaunching. But the Englishman was present in the duels.
- Luiz (4.5): The Brazilian was the most present at the start of the match to cut the opposing actions, before saving his team on a header from Van Dijk (12th). He was solid defensively despite a few small absences, including a ball to the foot, and a rebound in the axis offering a strike position to Diogo Jota for the third goal (88th).
- Tierney (3.5): Mainly, he took an elbow from Sadio Mané, which resulted in a yellow card (3rd). Overtaken by Salah on Mané’s equalizer (28th), he was also not very inspired in the rebound. The Scot was back in the second half.
- Bellerin (4): He could have been unhappy by deflecting an Alexander-Arnold strike over the bar while his keeper was on the trajectory (21st). Too much in focus on the Reds’ second goal, he left Robertson alone behind his back (34′). Warned in the 68th minute.
- Elneny (5): In Arteta’s tactical mesh, the Egyptian has mostly run a lot, rarely able to project himself. Voluntary, he did not hesitate to go to the duel and show himself in the construction of the game. Neither transcendent nor bad, he did his part.
- Xhaka (5): More emphasized compared to Elneny in the first half, the Swiss failed to get the ball out cleanly towards his attacking trio. Except when he opened the scoring where he found Lacazette in pivot at the origin of the action (25th). Overall, he suffered from the Reds’ constant pressing. Replaced by Ceballos (60th). The Spaniard quickly printed his technical leg in midfield but was cautioned in the 72nd minute.
- Maitland-Niles (4): Always fond of spaces, he did not hesitate to take his corridor to launch counter-attacks. It paid off on the opening of the score where his center, badly sent back by Robertson, landed in the feet of Lacazette (25th). Otherwise, technical errors often prevented his team from starting from behind.
- Willian (4): Little insight offensively without having any good opportunities to get under the tooth, he appeared mostly in support of Bellerin in the corridor, apart from a foray late in the first half (43rd). Replaced by Pepe in the 68th minute. Like his predecessor, the former Lillois did not have good balls to exploit.
- Lacazette (5.5): the first curtain of the London block, he tried to press on the Reds’ central defense and negotiate his few touchdowns. He took advantage of a poor clearance from Robertson to open the scoring (25th). As usual, he was available with his back to goal to launch Arsenal’s attacks, and willing in the defensive retreat. He missed a one-on-one with Alisson (58th), although surely offside, then a second a few minutes later (63rd). Replaced by Nketiah (74′). Difficult start for the hero of the last Premier League match against West Ham.
- Aubameyang (3): The Gunners’ star striker was more than discreet in the first half, hitting very few balls on his left side (13). The Gabonese was replaced alongside Lacazette on the return from the locker room and was (a little) more dangerous. Uninspired technically, it was a match to forget for the former Stéphanois.
