LFC need an attacking gamechanger – not a midfield sacrifice for Bradley

If Mikel Arteta’s men truly feel they are the champions in waiting, about to end a 22-year wait for domestic honours, then they still have quite a bit of convincing to do.

For Liverpool, the match offers an interesting digestion, a few successes coupled with a series of contradictions.

This is Anfield looks at what comes next after a night of attrition in North London.

Liverpool’s attack needs a gamechanger: their best remained on the bench

There is an immediate caveat to be noted here, in that Liverpool were without all three of Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, and still managed to bully Arsenal into submission.

Indeed, the Reds had almost the same xG as the Gunners, despite not registering a shot on target. But in these moments when the stakes are high under high pressure and the ammunition left in the barrel is very limited, the question arises as to who Liverpool can turn to.

Federico Chiesa, perhaps the best natural finisher in the squad last night, kept the bench warm for the entire time.

Arne Slot now clearly does not trust the Italian to follow his stylistic approach, for both discipline and tactical reasons. The eternal role of super sub will only be available to the 28-year-old, despite cries from a significant portion of the fanbase for otherwise.

And so the Emirates hosted a prime example of a match where it would be difficult to name a goalscorer for Liverpool.

Cody Gakpo certainly has a few finishes in him, but the Dutchman’s inconsistencies mean this is often a fallback option, rather than a surefire Plan B.

In these moments it is difficult not to tragically reflect once again on the loss of Diogo Jota.

Everyone at the club will always miss a good friend and a remarkable human being, as will the fans. But a broader picture shows that Liverpool are now certainly without that special footballer on the bench, who you would like to score, while he fits perfectly with the team’s principles.

There is no one in the Jota template. While Liverpool, still navigating the thick cloud of grief, try to carry on as best they can given the circumstances, this must be recognized and taken into account going forward.

Arne Slot lures tactical critics into the trap of contradiction

During the press conference after the match, Slot had the appearance of a man who had been somewhat vindicated. It was a result the manager was looking for.

Of course it wasn’t three points on the road against the hottest side in English football, but it was a determined, controlled and possession-dominant performance that earned the clean sheet.

Slot was proud to tell the media that his side’s strong performances were praised for using exactly the same tactics and game plan as the recent results, namely the draws against Fulham and Leeds.

In many ways the Liverpool boss has a point, nicely luring critics into a threatening trap of contradiction.

Ahead of the trip to London, Slot made it clear that his vision and style of setting up the Reds would not change. The attitude led to easy and predictable criticism and accusations that Liverpool were stifling creativity and risk-taking, all to ultimately squander three points anyway.

A trend is emerging in this area. Slot seems to have run out of case studies until a clash with a superior opponent rears its head again.

Apart from the head-scratching period from late September to October, Liverpool were very controlled and authoritarian against the big players.

Results against Arsenal, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and the in-form Aston Villa illustrate Slot’s way of thinking. Naturally, the Dutchman will face further criticism if Liverpool fail in their upcoming clashes with Burnley, Marseille, Bournemouth and Qarabag.

He may have created a rod for himself in this regard, but Slot now has Arsenal to prove his methodology makes sense.

Liverpool were a pair of untouched, fizzing low crosses from Noni Madueke through the six-yard box away from throwing the match, but the scoreline at the final whistle dictates that is a discussion for another day.

Liverpool need consistency in midfield after Bradley’s injury

Liverpool have to make big decisions every week as things are far from smooth sailing, and if they get it wrong there could be miserable consequences.

The biggest at the moment is the midfield; exactly how to structure it and what you want it to do. This comes as a glowing priority in Slot’s inbox, given what appears to be a nasty injury suffered by Conor Bradley.

Three immediate options present themselves: return to Szoboszlai’s wing-back experiment, abandon Jeremy Frimpong’s winger project or reintroduce Joe Gomez as a covering right-back.

Regardless of the decision, it feels like a decision that has to be made and one that you have to be fully committed to.

There has been far too much doubt, hesitation and inconsistency in Liverpool’s squad for months. To add more to that, after a decent result against Arsenal it feels criminal.

The midfield will bear the brunt of the outcome as there are several changing dynamics at play. At the Emirates, Slot was so religiously committed to his tactical positioning that for the first time this season Liverpool were ready to play 90 minutes plus extra time without a single substitute.

For a manager who was shooting submarines like it was the latest trend, this was very much against the grain.

A steady turn from Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch allowed the energetic trio of Frimpong, Szoboszlai and Wirtz to take the lead, with the latter joining Gakpo in and out of the false 9 position.

Slots needs to be careful here and commit to whatever altered state he decides to go into in the future. The natural and perhaps most sensible suggestion that seems to scream is a return for Gomez.

There will be an increased stature and defensive presence at the backline, with the England international still very capable of getting forward and providing a cross.

But more relevant is that the current core in midfield can remain the same. Frimpong will remain as a winger, where he is growing in both confidence and prominence, and there will be minimal disruption when Ekitike is ready to be reintroduced.

One week Frimpong is back at wing-back and the next Szoboszlai, with the return of Curtis Jones as cover, before testing out Gomez. This feels like a whirlpool of confusion that Liverpool really don’t need right now.

A stack of highly winnable games is on the immediate horizon.

Slot could get a lot of positive feedback if he reduces Arsenal to a stalemate on the chessboard in their own backyard, but it must act as an immediate springboard.