Liverpool’s defensive issues run deep, Ryan Gravenberch fits Jurgen Klopp’s midfield well… and Ben Doak is still rough around the edges: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED from Reds’ 3-1 comeback win at LASK
- A fully rotated Liverpool side took a while to get going and showed frailties
- Ryan Gravenberch was a commanding presence and Luis Diaz is officially back
- Click here to watch the IAKO Battle of Old Trafford YouTube Special from the Mail Sport Studios
Liverpool’s 3-1 win over LASK provided insight into Jurgen Klopp’s mindset, the barriers his team still have to overcome, and what we can expect from lesser-known players.
It was a fourth comeback victory in five games and though a prolific second half leaves a shiny gloss on the evening, there’s a darker underbelly: for 45 minutes of this match, Liverpool weren’t up to scratch.
For one, the Reds looked shaky at the back once again and couldn’t add to their solitary clean sheet this season.
Some individuals shone, but as a unit Klopp’s men were below their best for large swathes of this game. Understandable, to some extent, when their manager made 11 changes and included a number of young players.
And it’s not all doom and gloom. Once again Liverpool showed their determination to never know when they’re beaten, and their two full debutants did themselves every favour with their performances.
Here are five things we learned from their Europa League return.
Liverpool beat LASK 3-1 after bouncing back from a sub-par first half against the Austrians
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Liverpool’s defensive issues run deep
With no disrespect to LASK, who have claimed a few scalps in the Europa League in the last few years, this was supposed to be a relatively straightforward assignment for Liverpool.
In Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, they had the central defensive pairing that started the 2022 Champions League final. And yet they were behind within 15 minutes. Too often it takes a while for the Liverpool machine to shudder into life.
Liverpool were remiss to not mark Florian Flecker as he haunted the edge of the area from a corner kick, and slow to react when LASK executed a routine that stopped them from closing him down. Touch. Shoot. 1-0.
It stemmed from a lack of clarity and leadership, showing that their defensive unit still needs drilling.
On an individual level, starting for the first time since returning from a hamstring injury, Konate looked far from his best. Under pressure from Marin Ljubicic around his own area in the first-half, he lost the physical challenge and gifted LASK an opportunity. He should get back up to speed given time.
Ibrahima Konate will need to get up to speed as he often struggled with the physical challenge
Stefan Bajcetic, meanwhile, was a makeshift replacement at right-back, deputising for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The youngster usually plays in defensive midfield but filled in with Conor Bradley out injured. Understandably, he looked out of sorts, but it exposes the thin depth Liverpool have in quality defensive options.
While Kostas Tsimikas created well with his crosses from the left flank, he hardly had his defensive zone under wraps and overall Liverpool conceded more chances than they should have in the first half, though Virgil van Dijk played decently.
Jurgen Klopp is serious about the Europa League
Ahead of this clash, Klopp said: ‘We are here to compete,’ said Klopp. ‘Not to give opportunities. I know we are favourites but we are here to play football, we take this game seriously and we want to take the most of it.’
While he did give some youngsters opportunities in the form of Doak, Harvey Elliott, and Bajcetic, he overall fielded an experienced side. This wasn’t some frolic with the kids.
A front three involving Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, complemented by the 17-year-old Doak, posed a fearsome threat.
Gravenberch will no doubt be a first-teamer for the Reds this year and Wataru Endo has already made several outings since joining in the summer.
Jurgen Klopp said that he would not just ‘give opportunities’ in the Europa League
The most telling indication of Klopp’s desire to excel in the Europa League was that he brought on Mo Salah with the team 2-1 up just to seal the victory, which his talisman duly did.
From the first half, the Egyptian ace could be seen prowling the touchline warming up, as if Klopp was using the threat of substituting him on as a device to whip his underperforming stars into shape.
Ryan Gravenberch already looks cosy in the midfield
It’s no surprise to say that Gravenberch is good. The 21-year-old has been one of the hottest prospects on European soil for some time now, rising through the famed Ajax academy and earning a move to Bayern Munich last season, though it didn’t quite work out.
With unfamiliar team-mates, he took a leading role as the conductor of Liverpool’s midfield, dictating play with searching passes and carrying the ball with confidence.
His first-time cross from the right flank for Diaz’s goal was superb, not even taking a second to think before sweeping the ball in pitch-perfect for the Colombian to finish.
Ryan Gravenberch took control of the midfield with confident dribbling and forward passes
It’s not time to get overexcited after one game, but if this performance is anything to go by – shining while team-mates faltered – then he has a promising career ahead of him at Anfield.
He was taken off in the second half but only due to cramp after charging forward on the counter-attack, driving the LASK defence towards their own goal.
Doak dazzles at times but is still raw
Give him time.
It can be easy to prematurely crown kings of the Kop. Doak, a humble lad from Scotland who has bonded with Andy Robertson, is an appealing character to get behind with his direct play, uncaring for convention and restriction.
He burst past defenders in this game without hesitation and created chances that might not have come about from a more circuitous approach. Why pass around the houses when you can bulldoze through them, his daredevil style asks?
Lots of anticipation is on Ben Doak thanks to his exciting showings but the youngster should be given time to make mistakes
His energy appeared to fizzle out in the second half slightly, but having signed a new long-term deal at Anfield, there’s plenty of time for him to develop.
In the words of Virgil van Dijk: ‘He’s very exciting, very direct, one-on-one. I call him a Tasmanian Devil with the way he is buzzing around, he’s just so quick. If his decision making gets better – and he has all the time in the world for that – then he could definitely be one for the future.’
Luis Diaz is putting his injuries behind him
Three goals in six games this season for Diaz. He’s finally putting the woes of the 2022-23 season behind him.
Last campaign was a frustrating one for the 26-year-old, as he missed 31 games due to a knee injury.
Now feels like the time where he can really step up, having established himself ahead of Jota in Klopp’s thinking.
Luis Diaz proved his value to Liverpool once again and came up with the end product needed
Tonight was another positive night for him on the flank. When he sticks his afterburners on, there’s little stopping him. He can go from zero to 100 incredibly fast. Do your best to stop him as he flickers towards you, feet whirring.
He was the standout man tonight, winning Liverpool’s penalty and manoeuvring well in the box to receive Gravenberch’s cross to add his own goal.
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