Position
Liverpool had a double header with Brighton & Hove Albion last week, winning on both occasions. The first was a 3-2 victory on the south coast in the last 16 of the League Cup, before a 2-1 success on Merseyside in the Premier League on Saturday. Both encounters were exciting affairs. The second half of the cup game, after a goalless first 45, produced real fireworks as Cody Gakpo’s brace put the Reds ahead. Then just four minutes after Brighton got one back, Luis Diaz restored the two-goal cushion. The hosts then made things exciting at the end by bringing it back to 3-2.
Just three days later at Anfield, this time Brighton went ahead and held a very much deserved 1-0 half-time lead. Liverpool turned thing up after the break and hit back through two quickfire goals from Gakpo and Salah. “We didn’t press well in the first half and were sloppy in possession,” said Van Dijk. “We had different energy in the second half and got what we deserve, I believe.” Coach Slot also believes that the crowd played their part in the comeback. “Our fans were incredible in the second half. It was the loudest crowd since I’ve been here. We’ll need our fans again on Tuesday, because they definitely have an influence on our players and ultimately on our results.”
Given Manchester City lost 2-1 at Bournemouth, Liverpool once again took to the top of the table with 10 games played. Their record so far under Slot is impressive, with eight wins, one draw and solitary defeat (1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest). The Dutchman arrived in the summer from Feyenoord to succeed Jürgen Klopp on Merseyside. Things aren’t just going well in the league, either. The Reds are still perfect in the Champions League as well, opening with a 3-1 win at AC Milan before a 2-0 home success over Bologna and then the 1-0 victory at RB Leipzig a fortnight ago.
Personnel
Apart from first-choice goalkeeper Alisson (hamstring), midfielder Harvey Elliott (foot) and forward Diogo Jota (chest), Slot has had almost his full squad available to him of late. Caoimhin Kelleher will again deputise in goal on Tuesday, while former Leipzig man Ibrahima Konate will probably partner captain Van Dijk in central defence again. The pair are also a threat at set pieces at the other end, both scoring twice already this season, like in the win in Milan. Konate did have to go off at the weekend with an injury and was replaced by Joe Gomez but has been passed fit. It will then be up to Slot to decide who he picks. At full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are normally nailed on, although Kostas Tsimikas did play on the left for the latter against Milan and Leipzig.
In central midfield, it’s usually Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. The pair have featured in every Premier League and Champions League fixture this season. Another former Leipzig player in Dominik Szoboszlai usually takes up the role of No.10, flanked by Salah and one of Gakpo or Diaz. Darwin Nunez and Jota are Slot’s normal options up front, although the latter is set to miss out again after taking a blow to his chest recently.
Problems
Although they’ve conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League this season, Liverpool’s defence isn’t without its flaws. They’ve appeared susceptible to a high press and quick transitions both against Brighton and in their recent 2-2 draw against Arsenal. That tactic saw Leipzig create a number of good chances against the six-time champions of Europe.
Performers
The Liverpool machine has continued motoring along since Slot took up the reins from Klopp. A compact defence has conceded only six times in 10 league games, which is the fewest in the division, while they have also kept seven clean sheets in all competitions. The Reds have also conceded just one goal – the same as Leverkusen – in three Champions League outings.
The real impressive numbers come in attack, though. Liverpool have proven tough to stop when they get going with their high press, quick transitions and speed out wide. Salah is again their leading scorer, netting seven and setting up five in the league, plus one goal and two assists in Europe. The 32-year-old, who’s been at Anfield since 2017, scored a lovely goal against Bologna, earned his side a point against Arsenal last week and netted again to secure all three points against Brighton at the weekend. In total he has 220 goals and 96 assists in 364 competitive appearances for Liverpool, including 42 from 67 in the Champions League alone. The Egyptian has also previously scored against the Werkself back in his Roma days, netting in the 3-2 win almost exactly nine years ago on 4 November 2015. A 19-year-old Jonathan Tah is the one survivor in the Leverkusen squad from that day.
But it’s far from all about Salah at Liverpool. On the opposite flank, Diaz has five goals and two assists this season. Gakpo scored three across the two games with Brighton last week. And up front, Nunez and Jota have shared responsibilities. All five were on the books at Anfield already last season and accounted for 55 of the team’s 85 Premier League goals (Salah 18, Nunez 11, Jota 10, Gakpo eight, Diaz eight). The Bayer 04 defence will have to be fully prepared for a real test on Tuesday.
