Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold were spotted doing something together at half-time against Crystal Palace today.
The first-half was not the reaction Liverpool were looking towards after a disappointing run of result recently. From the draw at Old Trafford to the defeat to Atalanta, Liverpool needed to bounce back.
But instead of taking the game full throttle, Liverpool were disappointing in the first-half against Crystal Palace.
The Reds were slow in their build-up play and toothless in front of goal. Even worse, they were too easy to counter against and Palace got in behind the Liverpool defence far too often.
That led to Liverpool conceding within the first 15 minutes of the game. Tyrick Mitchell ran past several players into the penalty area and squared it to Eberechi Eze, who was completely unmarked inside the box.
What Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai did at half-time
It was simply not good enough from Liverpool in the first half. Immediately, Jurgen Klopp sprinted to the dressing room after the whistle went for the end of the first-half.
He was quick to make changes as well, bringing on Dominik Szoboszlai for Wataru Endo at half-time.
It was a change that was necessary. Endo struggled to get into the game, and Liverpool definitely needed Szoboszlai’s energy and offensive qualities on the pitch being a goal down.
Very quickly into the first-half, Klopp also introduced Alexander-Arnold. Although that was more of a forced substitution with Conor Bradley, who has been in great form, forced to leave the field due to an injury.
But before both of those players were brought on, Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold were also spotted in an ‘animated discussion’ while warming up on the side-lines according to Liverpool ECHO’s Ian Doyle.
Why it’s great to have Trent Alexander-Arnold back
One of the silver linings from the Crystal Palace game was the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He has endured his longest ever lay off since breaking into the first team due to injury. But it was great to see him back on the pitch and playing really well.
According to Wyscout, he ranks in number one spot for the following metrics in the Premier League this season:
- Passes to the final third (13.78 per 90)
- Passes to the penalty area (6.03 per 90)
- Progressive passes (14.87 per 90)
- Through passes (3.16 per 90)