Liverpool regained the winning feeling with a comprehensive dismissal of Eintracht Frankfurt, ending a sequence of four-straight defeats.
There was plenty for Arne Slot to be pleased about – not least the fact there were goals scored from set pieces – but still some issues to address.
Hugo a go-go!
Starts are everything at a club like Liverpool. Look back through history at those who arrived from far, foreign lands to become stars and you will see they burst out of the blocks like sprinters in an Olympic 100m final.
Luis Suarez, Xabi Alonso; Fernando Torres, Mo Salah, Javier Mascherano, Sami Hyypia, Alisson Becker – you knew immediately all of them were going to be brilliant from their first few displays and it is not over the top to say that Hugo Ekitike is giving similar vibes.
Back on his old stomping ground, the France international ended the debate about who should be playing as No 9 for the time being. Ekitike has athleticism, he makes things happen quickly and, more than anything, he is scoring liberally.
Liverpool looked a yard sharper when Ekitike came off the bench against Manchester United and they had a cutting edge from the word go in Frankfurt. Whether Alexander Isak is fit or not, having felt his groin, Ekitike has to start at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. It would be risible if he was back on the bench.
Wirtz approaches boiling point
The game had long been won but the 66th minute felt like the most important of the evening. Florian Wirtz, drifting in from the right, zipped the kind of glorious ball across the six-yard box that was impossible for Cody Gakpo to miss; four minutes later, he teed up Dominik Szoboszlai for another.
Granted, the second ‘assist’ was nothing more than a nudge into the Hungarian’s path but, for those who put their stock in numbers, he’s up and running. It had been a long time since Wirtz had assisted Ekitike in the Community Shield and how his form has been debated in the 10 weeks.
Yes, it has been a slow start for the German and, yes, you would like to see him sparkle against better opponents but there have been sparks from him, like a match being struck, of late. He is going to be a very good player for Liverpool; his movement, skill and intelligence flash like beacons.
It was overlooked during the disappointment against Manchester United but Wirtz was excellent when introduced into the contest and now he simply needs a consistent run of games to build up the head of steam. Arne Slot must stick with him now, being taken in and out of the fray won’t help.
Gotze and those sliding doors
How different might things have been. The sight of Mario Gotze scurrying about as Eintracht Frankfurt tried to land some blows led your mind to think back to the frantic summer of 2016, when Jurgen Klopp was fresh through the door and renovating Liverpool’s squad.
Klopp had launched Gotze to stardom at Borussia Dortmund, was devastated when Bayern Munich pilfered him away and then wanted to rescue the young man – whose goal enabled Germany to conquer the world in 2014 – when his career stalled in Bavaria.
Conversations were held, questions were asked, money was discussed but, in the end, Gotze turned down a reunion with Klopp, who was forced to look at an alternative target to give Liverpool a goal threat. The player he opted for was Sadio Mane. No wonder there was no cause for regret.
Full-backs, full-time
Sometimes situations arise that can force a coach’s hand and leave them with no choice but to focus on a certain line-up. As unfortunate as Jeremie Frimpong’s apparent hamstring injury is, this has to be the time Slot sticks with Connor Bradley at right-back.
Bradley has played 10 times this season but he has only completed 90 minutes once; there have been five bookings, some of which have forced Slot to substitute him early and use Szoboszlai in defence instead.
Has the Northern Irishman’s confidence been impacted? It’s difficult to say but it’s not hard to spot that he hasn’t been quite as sure as he was last season. This is the moment to give him full support, keep him on consistently from start to finish and the upshot will definitely be improved displays.
Liverpool will be better as a unit for having a settled back four of Bradley, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson, particularly while Milos Kerkez is adjusting. Chopping and changing is having an unsettling impact.
Keep a lid on celebrations
The old maxim is true: you can only beat what is in front of you and, after four consecutive defeats, scoring five goals away from home is a huge shot in the arm. But it was telling the way some of the Liverpool players spoke afterwards.
‘I don’t know if it’s a statement but it’s a win,’ said van Dijk and you could only nod along because some of the scores in this latest round of Champions League fixtures have shown the gap between those with money and those with fewer financial reserves is growing and growing.
There is clearly an irritation within the squad that results and performances have been scrutinised and criticised but the facts are clear: everyone can see that Liverpool’s levels have dropped, everyone knows displays of late haven’t been right and the structure of the team has been off.
Liverpool have conceded 18 goals already this season and the one shipped against Frankfurt was cheap. Until they have gone and registered a determined 1-0 success and played with control, there will still be concern. It’s up to the players to quell the doubters.
