Happy with the win, no doubt about it. There were moments where Liverpool looked a level above, especially going forward, but you can’t shake the feeling that the way the game finished told its own little story as well.
Hugo Gliding, Salah Sharing, Wirtz Running The Show
Hugo just glides with the ball. Every time he picked it up you felt something could happen. With a bit more composure in the final third he could easily have added a couple of assists and helped himself to a third goal. You can see the potential there, clear as day.
Salah looked more like the version of himself who plays for the team first. There was more chasing back, more graft off the ball, and a lot of unselfish passing in good areas. It felt like he was properly plugged into what the side needed, not just hunting his own numbers.
Wirtz is just a joy to watch. You can see his teammates are starting to trust him more and more, giving him the ball in tight spaces and letting him dictate things. Jones carried on his great form as well, knitting play together and doing the ugly stuff without fuss. He really does feel like the full package when he is fit. That’s the big thing with Curtis now: just stay fit and play.
On The Ropes And Crying Out For Calm Heads
For all the good stuff, there was that 20-minute spell towards the end where Liverpool were properly on the ropes. The game got stretched, the crowd could feel it, and we were desperate for a bit of controlled football to slow everything down.
In those moments you look around for leadership and composure. It felt like the sort of spell where you need someone like Endo or, in years gone by, Henderson to put a foot on it, take a foul, calm everyone down. Instead, one of the rare times we did manage to get proper possession, Konate just sent it 30 yards straight back to them. Stuff like that sums up the lack of control at times.
Brighton kept finding players in acres of space with simple 10–15 yard passes into midfield. First half and second half, it was the same pattern now and then: we press, they pop it round the corner, and suddenly they’re running at our back line.
Macca Questions And The Midfield Balance
I love technically gifted players like Macca, I really do, but it is getting to the point where you start to ask what he actually adds in this setup. When Liverpool are dominant, with so many line-breaking options already on the pitch, do we really need another of that same profile?
Grav, Dom, Curtis and Wirtz can all break lines, carry the ball and create chances. What we are crying out for at times is someone who gives us security as much as flair. Out of possession, Macca too often looks on the wrong side of his man, easy to beat, and then too slow to recover and put it right. In a side that already wants to commit bodies forward, that becomes a real issue.
If the club are not going to dip into the market to sort that area, then at least lean into what we have: play Dom in the middle where he can really influence the game more consistently, or get Endo in there when we need a platform. The talent is there, but the blend does not always feel quite right.
Closer To The Finished Article, But Not Quite Yet
Despite the nerves late on, it does feel like Liverpool are getting closer to being a properly rounded side again. The attacking patterns are sharper, individuals like Hugo, Wirtz and Curtis are stepping up, and even Salah looks like he is adjusting his game for the team.
Sort the midfield balance, add a bit more leadership and calm when the game goes mad, and this side will look a lot more mature. Until then, we will keep getting wins that feel great in the moment but leave that nagging feeling that there is still a fair bit of work to do.
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Liverpool News Views offers daily Liverpool coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, EFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
