After a dominant 3-0 victory over Aston Villa for Jurgen Klopp’s team at Anfield, Liverpool send a strong message as Klopp gets what he wants in the 92nd minute.
Liverpool got down to business against Aston Villa by putting on their most complete performance of the young season, ending the phony conflict that was the transfer window.
They enter the international break with a spring in their step, the wind in their sails, and calm optimism about what might be possible over the upcoming months after earning 10 out of a possible 12. Say it softly, but Jurgen Klopp and his team are gaining momentum as they extend their winning streak to 15 games since April.
What stood out most about this comfortable 3-0 victory was how smoothly the home team handled a game that should have been problematic. It seems like a long time since such a straightforward victory was served up, and such afternoons will be crucial to the growth of a youthful and rather new-look side.
On the same weekend that Chelsea and Newcastle lost, Liverpool came out on top thanks to goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah on either side of an own goal by Matty Cash.
After a partially cleared corner, Szoboszlai scored a lavish opening goal after just 10 minutes with a lovely left-footed drive that arrowed into the left corner of Emi Martinez’s goal. A similar loud applause was heard moments later as the Kop praised their brand-new £60 million midfielder for sliding in to stop Lucas Digne at the back post.
The No. 8 has been the standout among the summer signings so far, and this was another eye-catching cameo that only piques interest in what else might be possible in a new-look midfield that has been put together with technical excellence placed at the forefront of its requirements rather than the hard-running demands preferred by Klopp in previous years. That theory was strengthened by the stability of Alexis Mac Allister at the center of midfield. The World Cup champion of Argentina was quietly effective as he kept things moving in the middle.
Include the unrealized potential of recent signings Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, the wise and seasoned captain of Japan, and Liverpool will be able to demonstrate that the reupholstering was successful.
