Liverpool beat Huddersfield 1-0 at the weekend to continue their fine start to the Premier League season.
The Reds retained the more robust back line from before the break, shifting Joe Gomez to right back. While the young defender has been a revelation at centre-half, his versatility allows rotation across the back without a considerable drop-off.
The real changes were across the front, where Xherdan Shaqiri and Daniel Sturridge joined Mo Salah. However, this was not a straight front three shape, as Shaqiri routinely dropped deeper into midfield, ultimately creating the game’s only goal with an exquisitely weighted through ball to Salah. At times, Salah drifted more centrally and Sturridge roamed wider in more of a front two shape.
While Liverpool did not yet find their free-flowing form, they continued to create chances against a Huddersfield side that pressed relentlessly without the ball. With the ball, the home side barely got a sniff. Their lone chance was a long-range shot that found the outside of the post.
Still, the Reds remain second in the table behind Manchester City. Liverpool may have missed a chance to gain ground on goals, where the gap is now ten. However, City’s easier run of fixtures will not last forever and most of their one-sided wins have come at home. The Reds will have opportunities to deliver devastating defeats to opponents at Anfield soon enough.
Here are four findings from the match.
