What a way to open the Premier League season!
Drama, tempo and a cavalcade of goals saw Liverpool travel to London and overwhelm Arsenal at the Emirates for a 3-4 victory.
If this match was any indication of the rollercoaster ride that Liverpool will provide during the campaign, the Reds are sure to provide some glorious examples of Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football.
The gaffer claimed this was his team and they played like it, despite including some glaringly obvious failings.
The first half looked more like another pre-season fixture, as Liverpool looked like they were still trying to work out the manager’s instructions. Playing away from home with a load of attack-minded midfielders, including Roberto Firmino leading a stirker-less line, the Reds struggled to find any rhythm with the ball in first half.
Content to let Arsenal have the ball and looking to press the Gunners on the counter, Liverpool lacked organization or understanding. They found themselves too loose and open without the ball and too crowded when they had it. Sorting out who was doing what with the personnel on the pitch proved initially problematic, as everyone was guilty of a little early-season indecision.
Yet, the second half saw the side grow in confidence and put together a fifteen minute period of ruthless demolition that all but ended the affair before some dodgy defending rekindled a lot of familiar fears for the Liverpool faithful.
Regardless, the Merseysiders secured their first victory from the opening four away fixtures in a row. Also, it may be a little overzealous to call the issues that need addressing calamitous just yet.
It is only Match Day 1, after all, and the positives far outshone the negatives in victory.
Here are four findings from the match.
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