Digging Deeper Into Liverpool’s 4-1 Victory Over Ipswich Town
With a victory over Ipswich in the books, we take a closer look at what it all means for the Reds.
The top three clubs in the Premier League table all kicked off at the same time, which meant there was a chance for significant changes in the title race. Liverpool had the fixture that, on paper, looked the easiest. The expectation, then, is all 3 points to keep the pressure on Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Winners
Midfield Mastery
Liverpool’s midfield has deservedly taken the headlines for a lot of the good results this season - especially given the perceived needs (and failures) when the summer transfer window came and went. Today, there was another strong performance from the midfield as Alexis Mac Allister controlled the match, Ryan Gravenberch again looked imperious, and Dominik Szoboszlai contributed a goal (and nearly earned a second). Against a low block, Liverpool will need to continue to be patient and maintain possession, with the midfield being one of the main contributors to breaking tight defenses. Would also be good to shout out the audacious reverse flick that Szobo put into the path of Lucho during the first half. This was a unit that was in full flight.
Terrific Trent
Trent Alexander-Arnold earned another assist and exploited the space and time that the Ipswich defense gave the Reds by spraying an absolutely dazzling array of passes, including a one-time, half-volley across the Ipswich box that nearly found a teammate on the back post. Trent’s ability to create something out of nothing is not new, but it bears repeating that while Liverpool may be best positioned to absorb Trent’s potential departure over the summer, there is certainly no replacing his singular ability. I don’t think it’s hyperbolic that he may own the single most accurate English right foot since David Beckham.
Magical Mo
Mohamed Salah once more moved up the career charts as his goal put him into sole possession of seventh place in the all-time Premier League goal scoring charts. Though he seems to have cooled down a bit in the new year, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Egyptian King could find himself sat at fourth by the end of the season, which is only 12 goals away. I mentioned this on social during the match, but the obvious struggle as a fan is not wanting to simply backup the money truck to pay Mo, Trent, and Virgil Van Dijk whatever they want. It isn’t sustainable behavior for an organization, but there’s also a seemingly hardening truth that these three players are more than making their case for their worth as individual diamonds within the Liverpool treasury.
Losers
Reckless Refs
Tough to spend any time at all discussing referees in what was a comprehensive victory by any measure, but there was a pretty rough incident late in the match when Ipswich’s Julio Enciso brough his knee - and, indeed, full body - crashing into Wataru Endo. It looked reckless and none would have been surprised if the player had received a red. While Enciso in the end received a yellow, it felt the most borderline of calls and we are left again asking questions about the league’s commitment to player safety.
Dissecting the Narrative
Liverpool’s standards seem to have flagged a bit after making their way out of the Festive Fixture crush - showing against Accrington Stanley notwithstanding. Liverpool had too know they’d begin finding more determined and compact defenses and we’d seen an early effect of that shit from opposing teams. It’s just one match and against a relegation side to boot, but Liverpool showed a tremendous amount of restraint in unlocking the Ipswich defense. More challenging sides await, though, with both editions of the Merseyside derby as well as the reverse fixtures against each of Manchester City and Arsenal all still to be played.
What Happens Next
Liverpool are still 6 points in front with a match in hand as Arsenal managed to get the three points against Wolves, while Nottingham Forest were pinned back by an absolutely rampant Bournemouth. It’s too early to say the race is limited to just the two clubs, but it’s looking like the Gunners and the Reds will be the ones pushing each other down the line. I don’t tend to handicap the title race until we’re at least 75% of the season through, so let’s get to the end of March before making final prognostications. For now, though, Liverpool did the job and continue to put the onus on Arsenal to win.
Liverpool’s own task will be to try to cool down the red-hot Cherries as a trip south to meet with Adoni Iraola’s side. This one feels like a proper title test and Liverpool will be hoping to make the trip home sweeter with three points in hand.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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