In this match, Mac Allister returned from injury, Jones went back to the bench, and the rest of the lineup remained the same as the previous game. Perhaps due to not being fully recovered from his injury, Mac Allister's performance was not good.
Slot's tactics in this match were relatively conservative, opting for a draw while aiming for victory. In the first half, the focus was on conserving energy and strengthening defense, with more short passes to slow down the tempo. Without the ball, the team did not press aggressively but maintained good defensive positions to reduce physical exertion. In the second half, after Jones replaced Mac Allister around the 60th minute, the team began to push forward, creating several threatening attacks. Unfortunately, Wirtz's shot was saved, Ekitiké's follow-up goal was ruled offside, and Salah missed two good scoring opportunities. In the 80th minute, thanks to a free kick created by Jones at the edge of the penalty area, Szoboszlai scored a stunning long-range goal. In the later stages, Arsenal mainly relied on long balls and did not create particularly threatening shots, allowing Liverpool to secure a crucial 3 points and return to the top of the table.
Slot's tactics in this match were unexpected; I thought he would leverage the home advantage to strengthen the attack, but Slot chose a more pragmatic defensive approach, indicating that a draw was also acceptable. The team's defense showed significant improvement compared to the last two matches. Kerkez, although still struggling a bit defensively, was able to hold his position and no longer rushed in blindly. Although they conceded several corners, they did not allow the opponent many opportunities for crosses or breakthroughs. Szoboszlai performed excellently as a makeshift right-back, not only defending well and denying the opponent chances in his defensive area but also making a long pass to the left flank and showcasing impressive free-kick skills, making people completely forget about Arnold. Konate's form has also slightly improved, and I hope he can renew his contract soon.
Due to the focus on defense, the attack looked less impressive, with the main issue being that Salah has not fully adapted to his new role, transitioning from the absolute core to being responsible for finishing or providing the final pass on the weaker side. If the team can find better chemistry moving forward, Salah's goal and assist numbers are likely to gradually increase.
The next match is away against newly promoted Burnley on September 14 after the international break. New signing Isak will likely need more time to adapt, and if there are no injuries, the starting lineup shouldn't change much. If Mac Allister plays a lot in the national team matches, he might start on the bench, Szoboszlai may return to midfield, and if Bradley's form recovers, he could start as the right-back. Although it is an away game, Liverpool's goal should definitely be 3 points.