Mentality Giants! An inspired final 10 minutes from Sadio Mane saw Liverpool come from a goal behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 and maintain the unbeaten start to the season.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Villa started well and took the lead through Trezeguet in the 22nd minute after a long free-kick beat the defensive line allowing the Egyptian to fire home at the back-post.
A howler from VAR then seemed to signal a frustrating day for Liverpool after Firmino had a goal ruled out due to an alleged offside on the Brazillian’s armpit.
However, a late masterclass from Liverpool’s full-backs and a world-class performance from Mane edged Liverpool over the line to yet another three points.
Mane was lively if not productive whilst out on the left-wing but after the substitution of Mohammed Salah he moved out to the right and caused havoc for the last quarter of the match.
This tactical switch from Jurgen Klopp was vital in eventually breaking down Villa’s stubborn defence and he recognised Mane’s contribution as well as that of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in changing the course of the game.
He said:
“We made it difficult for ourselves. We started playing football, good, but not exactly how we should have done.
“We conceded a goal and it wasn’t easy to change because of bad passes and so on.”
He added:
“I didn’t like our body language in the first half. We didn’t look like warriors. We were like players.
“Second half we were much better. Then we could change twice. Shooting from distance from Ox helps massively, moving Sadio right gave Ox space.”
Throughout the game Mane was a threat, having 84% pass accuracy whilst creating three chances including the assist for the equaliser.
However, the impact of Oxlade-Chamberlain was yet again vital and his performances in recent weeks must finally start to make Klopp consider giving the midfielder a starting spot in the side.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has performed strongly against Gent and Arsenal in the Champions League and League Cup respectively as well as having a positive impact in both the Spurs match and today’s comeback.
As Klopp mentioned he creates space that has been otherwise lacking for the front three and offers a genuine goal-threat from distance that has been missing since Phillipe Coutinho left.
Next week’s mammoth clash with Manchester City may be the perfect game for Klopp to throw Oxlade-Chamberlain back into the XI and it might prove to be an inspired decision as it was last time the Ox faced Pep Guardiola’s side.
Away from the impact of the Ox and Sadio Mane the late flurry from Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold was pivotal in wearing down Villa to the point of collapse.
The run made to the back-post for the equaliser was Ian Rush-like from Robertson and it was made with the energy expected in the first minute not the last.
Meanwhile, the constant peppering of Villa’s box from Alexander-Arnold’s crosses ultimately led to the winner.
Post-match Ryan Giggs admitted what we have all known for months that “Liverpool have the best full backs in europe.” as once again today they showed not only their importance but their unrelenting quality.
However, one sticking point from today’s match was once again the poor use and implementation of VAR.
Firmino thought he had equalised for Liverpool late in the first-half but it was ruled out after his armpit was adjudged to have been offside.
This pedantic and essentially inaccurate use of VAR for miniscule offside decisions is hurting the game. There is too much room for error in the technology in tight situations and thus the referee’s are guessing as they properly were without VAR last season.
The problem with VAR isn’t that the decision went against Liverpool or that it was a tight call. It is that the technology cannot 100% say that the goal was offside and thus it causes more confusion and anger than if an on-pitch official had just made a bad call i.e. Torreira’s goal on Wednesday.
This confusion and uncertainty was meant to have been abolished with the introduction of VAR but ultimately it has made it worse; a sentiment that Klopp seems to agree with.
He said:
“We won 2-1 so the VAR is not that serious. It’s not the right was that we can sit here and laugh about it though.
“Managers can get sacked for losing football games. I don’t want to make this a bigger issue than it is but we have to clarify it.
He added:
“The analyst showed me it (Firmino’s goal). Sometimes in works in your favour and sometimes it doesn’t.
“But we have to make sure that the new system helps the game and not confuses it. That’s in the best interest of all of this.”
Despite the shortcomings of VAR Liverpool came away with the win that for most teams would have been written-off after 85 minutes.
But that is the difference between this team and many other across europe; nothing is ever written-off.
As Brendan Rodger’s would have put it there is “Great character and intensity” in this Liverpool side. Until that final whistle in blown there is not one player, coach or fan that believes that the game is lost.
You could argue that the belief in the side has been at Liverpool for nearly two years. However, the major difference is that Klopp’s side no longer just fight to the last whistle but they play with the confidence that they will win whatever the score may be.
Today’s result by no means decides anything but being able to go into the City game six points clear instead of three is massive heading into next Sunday’s match.
Brandon Russell
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