9 Passes All Game: Slot Must Instantly Drop 5/10 Liverpool Star After Arsenal Display
Liverpool will likely be pleased with their point gained against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, especially as their Premier League title rivals managed to take the lead twice during yesterday evening’s match.
Last season, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool fell short in north London, outplayed and overpowered in February during a critical stage of the gripping three-way title race.
In that encounter, Liverpool’s error-prone performance left them struggling to match Arsenal’s energy and confidence, and Ibrahima Konate was sent off late in the game.
This time, however, the French defender put on an impressive display, winning all his duels and earning praise for a “world-class” performance from analyst Raj Chohan.
Mohamed Salah was also unavailable in that previous game, as he was away with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations. His return this time around, however, made a significant difference for manager Arne Slot’s ambitious project, which now keeps Liverpool four points above the Gunners.
When Darwin Nunez made a clever run, and Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a perfectly timed pass to split Arsenal’s defence, it seemed inevitable that Salah would find space to beat David Raya in the box.
And indeed, he did. The 32-year-old’s skillful finish marked his eighth goal across all competitions this season, along with seven assists. Salah has flourished under his Dutch manager, driving Liverpool’s emerging title challenge.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano described Salah as “unstoppable again,” with his positioning and awareness proving invaluable in a challenging Emirates setting.
Salah’s determined play helped Liverpool recover after an early missed opportunity, reinforcing his importance to their title aspirations.
Arsenal posed a significant threat and looked to capitalize on the energy of their home crowd. However, with players like Mohamed Salah orchestrating play under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, Liverpool’s impressive start to the season seems poised to continue, keeping them in strong contention against Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League title.
Not all Liverpool players were at their peak, though, as Luis Diaz struggled to make an impact. The Colombian winger had a challenging performance, largely contained by Thomas Partey, who was filling in as a right-back for Arsenal. Diaz will likely be grateful for the contributions of his teammates who picked up the slack on the other flank.
Time for Luiz Diaz to be Dropped
Luis Diaz has been a standout for Liverpool this season, scoring five goals. Notably, his clever flick-on from a corner was instrumental in Liverpool’s ability to outplay their opponents by netting a goal through their powerful captain, Virgil van Dijk.
Despite his contributions this season, Diaz faced some criticism for his performance in this match. The Liverpool-focused outlet This Is Anfield gave him a rating of only 5/10, noting an underwhelming display and his limited impact on Liverpool’s offensive efforts down the left flank.
As detailed below, Diaz’s performance didn’t quite showcase his usual strengths, as he was substituted shortly after the hour mark. The Colombian winger was well-contained by Thomas Partey, who, while playing out of position, managed to win 13 duels and make five tackles in an impressive defensive display.
| Luis Diaz’s Performance vs Arsenal | |
|---|---|
| Match Stats | # |
| Minutes played | 63′ |
| Touches | 31 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Shots (on target) | 0 (0) |
| Accurate passes | 9/10 (90%) |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Crosses (completed) | 2 (0) |
| Dribbles (completed) | 4 (1) |
| Tackles | 3 |
| Total duels (won) | 19 (6) |
| Fouls | 5 |
| Stats Source: Sofascore | |
Diaz’s performance left much to be desired, as he completed only nine passes throughout the evening and managed to successfully complete just one out of four dribble attempts. Winning only six out of 19 duels also highlighted a challenging match for the former Porto winger in north London this weekend.
Despite this, Diaz remains one of the Premier League’s top wide forwards and demonstrated his value with a crucial contribution in the first half.
On the other hand, Cody Gakpo made a strong impact off the bench, winning three out of his four duels. His current form suggests he deserves a spot in the starting lineup, having shown he can be a key asset for Liverpool going forward.
In other news, “Shut Me Up”: Ian Wright Admits One Liverpool Player Completely Silenced Him After His Display Against Arsenal
