04 Sep 2025 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Arsenal - A Quick Liverpool Perspective
04 Sep 2025 08:50:04
I think Salah was getting stick because his touch was well off in this game (and has been so far this season)
Totally agree he got little service but what he did get was usually wasted cheaply I thought. I found him pretty frustrating to watch.
I thought the whole team took a big leap forwards though in this game, much better teamwork and we saw little flashes when it was clicking, this teams going to be frightening second half of the season I reckon, just got to keep putting the points on the board and keeping ourselves in contention for when the prizes are dished out.
04 Sep 2025 08:11:46
Thanks for the write up, Ed!
{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate.}
04 Sep 2025 08:26:10
Thanks Ed01. Always look forward to reading them as it often provides a different perspective.
{Ed001's Note - cheers Das.}
04 Sep 2025 09:01:44
Great Read ED, thank you!
Was at Anfield for the first time in over 10 years (Used to be a regular visitor but Uni, then Kids and moving out of the family home made it impossible. Loved every second it and agree completely with what youve said.
I was in disbelief at Timber timewasting in the 91st minute at 1-0 down. Watching Kerkez and Konate finally put in some decent performances. Might sound horrible but I did particularly like Kerkez sliding in (Cleanly) on Max Dowman. Let's be honest, if we were professional footballers and a 15 year old went to dance past you, we'd all clatter him.
For all their investment. Arteta isn't the man. But who is there available they could replace him with. I don't think they would replace him, he has them consistently in the Champions League and the behind the scenes, they all seem happy with him, but he'll never take them to that next level.
Thanks Ed!
{Ed001's Note - thank you Lambo, so glad you got a good result for your return.}
04 Sep 2025 10:13:25
Love the reviews as always Ed001, as soon as I see them up, I go make a coffee and take a few minutes to myself to read.
Thanks Ed00!
{Ed001's Note - thank you very much Robbie.}
04 Sep 2025 10:26:00
Thanks for the write up ed1 I enjoy reading them. After a win tho!
It is v noticeable under slot how we start so slow and finish v strong, I had thought at start of last season it maybe due to players not used to style/ system etc but it's obviously a ploy as u have said. start slow and eventually grind it out and finished in ascendancy. At anfield we where always used to such quick starts, even before klopp, we could often be 2up in 10mins and opposition wouldn't know where they are. It's takes bit of getting used to at home games but when u winning games u can't argue.
{Ed001's Note - I think it is better the way Slot does it, for winning trophies. It certainly worked better in the 80s anyway.}
04 Sep 2025 10:38:32
Another masterpiece Ed. Thanks as always for these. Always my favourite post of the week although really really like the roundups too.
{Ed001's Note - cheers Davey, glad you are enjoying the round ups as well.}
04 Sep 2025 10:44:56
I agree Mickey Salah had at least twice when he was given the ball on the right corner of the box in space. Normally he’d control the ball onto his left and bend a shot towards the far corner but both times the ball bounced off him and gave the defenders a chance to make a challenge.
It was pretty shocking to be honest and I’m sure he was disappointed with it himself.
That being said it’s Mo Salah and anyone writing him off will end up looking a bit stupid. He’s never had the best touch in the world but one thing you know is he will always provide goals and assists. He’s a world class player.
I think he’ll be more about assists this season because we’ve now got 2 very good strikers who will get the goals but Mo won’t want to play second fiddle and will get his fair share.
04 Sep 2025 10:51:32
Already in midseason form, Ed01. Nice one, man. I fully agree with majority of your points esp. on Arsenal. I'll keep saying it. They can financially dope a cone man in Arteta BUT regardless, he will always be a cone man. The footie they play is diabolical and that is near across the board. Anyone comparing him to Pep needs their heads examined.
IMO what we saw on Sun. was the Billion pound version of West Brom under Pulis. And I think even Pulis would have played better footie had he been given a billion to spend on players. As for our boys, I thought we deserved the win too based on our courage and bravery and willingness to take risks after feeling things out in the first. It was such risks and forward play that led to Jones being found by a dreadfully out of position Zubimendi to stop him running at Gabriel. And then the goal happens. What a goal, btw.
And if I can dd. I thought VVD took over that game from CB (in both attack and defence) in the second half cos some of the line-breaking passes he was making were immaculate and put us on the front foot vs their defence. Never seen a CB take over a game like that.
{Ed001's Note - thank you Oli.}
04 Sep 2025 11:48:58
In a way Arteta is a lot like Pep, in terms of being risk averse. Pep's positional football is mechanical and leaves no room for improvisation, every piece has to be where it's supposed to be. Arteta's football to me feels like it's driven by fear, principally fear of conceding on the break. Every phase of play needs to be managed so the team never finds itself in a numerical disadvantage, and so nobody tries to play a ball in any part of the pitch that is high risk and high reward. I guess that's why corners are so significant for them, because the parameters and variables are so much narrower.
I have to admit that in the first half we were culpable of playing in a similar fashion, uppermost in our minds was not conceding possession in dangerous areas and not getting done on the break, which is understandable given how we played against Bournemouth. Even the raking diagonals and balls from deep in our half that we would try to win 50/ 50s out of regularly were basically non-existent. Our midfield was also positioned a bit too close to our defense, which made it easier for Arsenal's midfield and frontline to crowd us in the build up with all of our players being too close together.
Second half Slot switched things up and Arsenal's press clearly looked like it couldn't sustain itself, but Arteta kept trying the same trick of trying to isolate Kerkez and buy fouls out wide/ get corners. Odegaard came on and was about as adventurous as Merino, which was to say, not at all. Eze made a difference for them, probably for the same reason that he wasn't chosen in the starting 11- not being drilled in the Arteta system. He has the ability to go inside then go back out again (or vice versa), he is unpredictable, which is a world of difference from Martinelli, who can only run fast in a straight line (into a cul-de-sac) .
Gyokeres and Zubimendi honestly look like the two most pointless purchases of the summer window judging from that game. Gyokeres looked like he wasn't even involved in the team's plans, it was obvious nobody was looking for him and he was marooned on an island chasing loose balls himself. Zubimendi keeps the ball for you when you are dominating possession, but in this game he was an absolute non factor doing 6 yard sideways and backwards passes on the halfway line before having to chase the play and losing almost every duel that he engaged in. I think he is a great player in the right team, but Grav offers so so so much more than he does from a deep midfield position.
04 Sep 2025 12:24:09
PB, I fully agree with your "Arteta is like Pep" take. It is a different side to this mad comparison that has no basis in fact and reality. Also, I agree that as soon as we got the upper hand in the game, Arteta did not pro-actively make the changes/ switches required and switch things up on time.
By the time he did that, we were already had the upper hand and the momentum to the point that the subs didn't work. Our tails were already up. He is such a reactive manager and only does things when his team concedes. Never before. Maybe cos he would rather play not to lose than be pro-active. Dreadful attitude if your goal is to win the big ones cos as they say, "Scared money don't make NO money".
04 Sep 2025 12:24:53
Really like the boxing analogy with Slot. Never thought of it that way with him, I always thought that way about Salah, but once again spot on. Really enjoy these reviews.
{Ed001's Note - thanks mate.}
04 Sep 2025 12:25:56
I’d Argue with the way Arsenal play replacing Partey with Zubimendi has taken them backwards.
If nothing else at least Partey could put a tackle in and was tall and strong so could block and grab at set pieces and get on the end of the odd cross.
Zubimendi looked like a little boy playing with the big kids.
04 Sep 2025 13:07:36
Arteta is the Waitrose Pulis.
04 Sep 2025 13:51:26
Great review ed. Thanks a lot.
Do ypu think szob would actually stay there at RB. His two games there have been epic . like a natural! . seems to not even need shouting or guidance from either the bench or his team mates about postional sense or any danger . almost as good as when gravy first got dropped back to the 6 .
Do you think he will actually be pur first choice free kick taker from those positions now? . interesting to hear he said it was nice to have a chance to take them . but in a respectful way after the game.
I know he can be a knob . but even neville said in commentary arsenal were taking more chances with passing at the back . then they were up front .
04 Sep 2025 15:11:08
If Szobo stays at RB then, who plays in midfield cos we need him there more than anything else?
04 Sep 2025 15:12:20
The LFC match reviews and PL round ups are brilliant! . I look forward to reading each one every week! . they're my go to commentary for accurate analysis, those and Barney Rooney from the Guardian. Excellent composition! Mightily appreciative! Keep em coming ED01!
{Ed001's Note - thank you so much sg!}
05 Sep 2025 03:10:04
Ed1, thank you! been waiting all day to read this. Excellent as always. Out of curiosity, what is the next article you'll be doing mate?
Hope all is well on your end and you can chill a bit more now the transfer window is over.
{Ed001's Note - first off it is a transfer window review and then I am not sure, but a bunch of player profiles anyway.}