Liverpool as soon as once more got here from behind to win within the Premier League, with the distinction between the primary and second half most noticeable in a single key space.
Wednesday night time got here and Liverpool have been with out 11 gamers, forcing Jurgen Klopp to area a makeshift facet.
Fortunately, the Reds got here good within the second half and put Luton to the sword, scoring via Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott.
This meant Klopp might give some sport time to Liverpool’s children, together with a debut for Jayden Danns.
The 18-year-old’s late introduction meant that, for the primary time in Liverpool’s historical past, “they’d seven gamers aged 21 or youthful play in the identical league sport,” Opta’s Michael Reid wrote on X.
The victory implies that Klopp has now overwhelmed each crew he has confronted within the Premier League as Liverpool supervisor.
First-half struggles
A lot was fabricated from Liverpool’s first-half woes, however if you happen to take away their blunt method within the remaining third, the remainder of the efficiency was truly OK.
As you may see in Fotmob’s first-half stats breakdown, Liverpool have been on prime for almost all of the half, and conceded simply the one huge probability, Chiedozie Ogbene’s objective.
It was the Reds’ remaining cross and decision-making that permit them down earlier than the break. This usually included wayward photographs from distance.
As you may see within the graphic under, the areas that Liverpool have been taking pictures from have been a lot nearer to objective within the second interval.
A captain’s efficiency
On the coronary heart of Liverpool’s comeback was captain Van Dijk, and never simply in a defensive sense.
The Dutchman stored calm to bury a header previous Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, when none of his teammates had but managed to. It was from then on that the Reds’ forwards began enjoying with extra confidence in across the field.
The objective was Van Dijk’s 18th within the Premier League because the starting of the 2018/19 season – Opta report that’s 4 greater than some other defender in that point.
After all, Van Dijk’s major work was finished on the again, producing seven clearances and profitable all seven of his aerial duels.
Actually, which means the Dutchman has received all 21 of his aerial battles because the Reds’ dwelling win over Chelsea on January 31.
His management and performances have been key to Liverpool’s renaissance this season, and he’s carrying over the ‘mentality monsters’ angle from earlier years.
Such is Liverpool’s psychological energy on the pitch, Squawka report they “have received 22 factors from shedding positions within the Premier League this season, the joint-most they’ve ever managed in a single marketing campaign (22 in 2008/09).”
Liverpool have scored 4 second half targets for the third time in seven league video games.
They’ve by no means finished it greater than thrice in a Premier League season.
Up the Reds.
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) February 21, 2024
Additionally, Andrew Beasley remarked on X that “Liverpool have scored 4 second-half targets for the third time in seven league video games.
“They’ve by no means finished it greater than thrice in a Premier League season.”
Liverpool want all of that willpower going into Sunday’s League Cup remaining in opposition to Chelsea, a match that would go to further time and penalties.
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