Liverpool 1, Arsenal 0 – Match Recap: Just One Is All We Need

LIVERPOOL 1 – 0 ARSENAL

Liverpool:Szoboszlai 82’

Pre-Match

Here it is. One of the first marquee matches of the season, with the wannabe champions traveling up to Anfield, already struck by injury woes. Liverpool have also had some growing pains, with their defensive standings not holding up as well as previous seasons. Sure, our attackers are doing great, and we might just end up with a 13/14 or 18/19 type season of just outscoring everyone (and wouldn’t that be fun), but it’d be nice to not just give up dumb goals. Thankfully, with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka out, and Martin Odegaard on the bench, Arsenal may not have the attacking power they usually do. We’ll still have to worry about their set pieces, but this should be an interesting match to say the least.

First Half

Welcome back home to Anfield, where You’ll Never Walk Alone rings out, and Arsenal get things underway with a long kick from Declan Rice. Things ramp up quickly after that, going end to end, before William Saliba pulls up with an injury and is immediately taken off, not even five minutes in. Just trying to keep track for the whiners later. An incredible counter attack happens when Wirtz picks up a ball and jumps over a tackle and charges down the middle with the ball, lays it off to Mohamed Salah, only to have his pass smothered and Arsenal turn around and do the same thing. There is life in both teams so far, in these first ten minutes, and Liverpool look the more likely to score first.

The new 20 minute tradition lives on, as the crowd takes up Diogo’s song, just as Milos Kerkez takes on Madueke in another battle, keeping him from moving in, although winning Arsenal another corner. Madueke again wins the ball and makes a long range effort, that is stopped by Alisson in full stretch. The Reds win a free kick when Jurien Timber grapples Cody Gakpo to the ground, and Wirtz steps up to take it and sends it just out to nowhere. Almost in tribute, Declan Rice does the same thing after the visitors win a free kick from a clip off Ryan Gravenberch.

Naturally, things have settled other than those few tackles and free kicks, in these last ten minutes. We’re at the half hour mark now and though there’s been signs of effort from the Reds, Arsenal’s defense has been more prepared to shut down any chances than Liverpool have been able to take advantage. Something has to give eventually, though, and hopefully the home side opens the scoring before the halftime break. The first real chance comes after Virgil Van Dijk collects a misplaced ball from David Raya and gets it to our strikers, but Arsenal recover from the misstep quickly and no one gets past the final yards, even when Mac Allister gets a chance.

Arsenal have decided they need to be more physical to keep Liverpool from getting to their chances, which is to be expected when the scoreline is 0-0 in the 43rd minute. There will be at least five minutes added on for all the corners they’ve taken poorly, giving us a few more moments to try and take the lead before halftime. Just kidding, there was only one minute for some reason, and off we go.

Second Half

Both teams come back out with no changes made, so there’s a definite feeling like we almost get a restart for the match. Slot is spotted talking to Conor Bradley in the tunnel, but the defender goes back inside rather than comes out so who knows what’s going to happen with him. Dom Szoboszlai could use the break at right back though. The main goal obviously needs to be getting around Arsenal’s well placed defense, and getting a winner or two. We also need to hold onto the ball for more than a couple passes, too. That might help.

As of 55 minutes in Arsenal have had 6 corners, and we’ve been lucky that none of them have found any useful targets, but the fact that we haven’t had any corners is not a great stat to think about. As we approach the hour mark, patience for our the inability to be creative and take any meaningful chances is wearing thin. Mohamed Salah unfortunately can’t keep the ball to save his life, whether by getting smothered by Arsenal defenders or having his passes misplaced all over the park. Liverpool plan to make their first change of the afternoon, bringing on Curtis Jones for Alexis Mac Allister, letting the new dad take a break from his first match back. There’s a moment of chaos before Curtis comes on though, as Wirtz takes a shot at goal, with the ball bouncing off of Raya, and Ekitike attempts to follow in the rebound in the scramble, but his goal is rule offside quickly. The life appears to be returning to Liverpool.

Curtis gets stuck in immediately, picking up a ball from Szoboszlai and carrying it well for Cody Gakpo to hit it straight into Raya’s arms. We’re being a little more assertive in front of the goal, which is great if it appears that Arsenal is running out of gas. We’ll definitely take a chance to get in as their attention drifts, as Salah is finally able to get a shot off towards goal but is once again gathered by Raya. Arsenal make their first two changes, bringing on Odegaard and new signing Eberechi Eze for Mikel Merino and Martinelli. Our Reds are starting to find some of the gaps in Arsenal’s lines, and even getting their first corner in the 71st minute, that goes in and then out immediately so sad trombone noises to us. Another corner comes not a minute later, and Wirtz gets the ball and has another go, but straight into a defender.

Federico Chiesa is given another gift, preparing to come on at the 76th minute, but it appears Konate has gone down injured with what looks like a cramp that he can’t recover from. Joe Gomez joins Chiesa in coming on, with Ekitike also coming off. Can’t wait for more discourse about the Chiesa song, and hopefully a Joe Gomez goal in the correct net. The Reds finally get a lucky break with a free kick opportunity in a good spot, although Szoboszlai steps up to take it and SMASHES IT RIGHT INTO THE NET!! IT’S LIVERPOOL ONE, ARSENAL NOTHING!!! Now the real work starts of making sure Arsenal don’t find an equalizer. Wataru Endo comes on as Wirtz comes off also in pain, but with our closer on the pitch, things might feel a little more secure. Wouldn’t be mad about another goal though, and with seven minutes added to the end, we’ve got a chance.

Final Thoughts

These last minute wins are going to be the death of us all, but we did the thing eventually. Three points against the wannabe usurpers. Let’s go to the international break and hopefully come back fully fit (and with maybe a couple more signings).