Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after RB Leipzig 0 Liverpool 1 in the 2024-2025 Champions League group stage…
LIVERPOOL are three games into their Champions League campaign and find themselves in the box seat.
It wasn’t always easy or straightforward, but it was deserved.
For the first 20, the Liverpool passing was very poor. But for the same 20, the desire to dig each other out, to anticipate danger, to just stay level was fantastic.
This is the truth of this side at this stage of the season. Being fair, it was the same at this stage of last season.
It is important not to lose the whole Jürgen Klopp era in its great emotional end or in the intense exuberance of its final season, but even then we need to remember what we thought had improved between 2022-23 and 2023-24 – they dug each other out.
This was, as much as anything else, the great leap forward year on year. While it ebbed away the other side of Crystal Palace at home, one of the markers was that they suddenly grafted for one another in a way which had been missing.
But another marker last season that had actually stayed from 2022-23 was that they would concede first 20 or at the very least first. And it is that which has dissipated. It is that which makes the biggest difference. Last season, this goes 1-0 Leipzig. This season it doesn’t. They no longer fight the scoreline with one hand behind their back for 70 minutes.
In this game last season, Liverpool would have conceded. This game last season, Liverpool probably still would have won. This game last season, Liverpool would have had to run around a lot more and a lot faster to win. They may even have won it 1-3. They wouldn’t have won it as easily.
Because we get the other side of the first 20 and the whole thing belongs to The Reds, bar a couple of efforts from Leipzig second half that Kelleher stands firm against and a last 10 with a bit of the kitchen sink combined with Liverpool dropping off.
But for 65 minutes, this is a very good Liverpool performance and Leipzig flatten before your eyes. They hit the last 10 minutes of the first half knackered and open, and Liverpool should make it two. It should then also be two by the hour mark, Liverpool not rampant but not far off.
More than anything else though, Leipzig are flattened by Ibou Konate. Prior to the game, there was a lot of chat of Dominik Szoboszlai returning to his former club, but this was also Konate’s return and he made everything count. He won everything in his vicinity and loads that wasn’t.
Darwin Nunez is all in, even by his own standards. There is nothing he won’t fight for or get involved in and he deserves a goal from the evening, which he gets by avoiding any doubt over whether or not Mo Salah’s header will drop in.
Ryan Gravenberch is brilliant for the hour Liverpool are. Trent Alexander-Arnold finds his range. Cody Gakpo doesn’t stop making his full back’s life a nightmare.
It ends with Liverpool having gone to and won their games against the two sides they were drawn away to in Pots One and Two. It puts them in the box seat in terms of this group stage.
The etymology of the phrase the box seat is that it was the seat from which the coachman could see everything while driving the coach and horses. He could make his decisions accordingly.
The substitutions, though, are also suggestive of a manager who has the box seat. He makes his calls seeing what is in front of him and what is to come. Liverpool end without a centre forward and with a Luis Diaz out of position. But Liverpool play injury time with real control and poise.
Arne Slot is in the box seat. Where Europe is concerned, obviously. But where Liverpool are concerned in general. The 11 wins from 12 games gift you that. And from where I see things at this point in time, I can’t imagine anyone better for that right now.
We’re on the march and it won’t always be perfect, but I don’t see the march stopping any time soon.
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“You can’t argue with being in charge of a game all game away in Europe.”
“Arne Slot’s Reds look up for it all.”
️ Post-Match Show | out pic.twitter.com/TwjZXUvFDZ
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) October 23, 2024
