Liverpool claimed their first three points of the season last Saturday and will go in search of another victory when taking on Newcastle United this weekend.
The Reds were the only Premier League side to complete a double over Eddie Howe’s side last campaign, something they should take great encouragement from as they prepare to lock horns with the Magpies once more.
Jurgen Klopp will be able to call on Alexis Mac Allister on Sunday afternoon after the Argentine’s red card was rescinded, representing a major boost in midfield. Elsewhere in this department, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara are closing in on making their respective returns from injury, though Curtis Jones could be sidelined for the second week in succession due to an ankle issue.
Looking ahead to the Reds’ upcoming meeting with the Magpies, four supporters have shared their views as part of a weekly ECHO fan column.
I was well and truly made up to be back inside Anfield last weekend, meeting up with good friends and familiar faces I hadn’t seen over the long summer and remembering routines in the glorious sunshine over a number of cold beers. That’s before we get onto how I’ve missed the pies! Luckily, the Reds didn’t have any plans on spoiling the party, meaning we could enjoy watching certain other favourable results roll in over the round of fixtures.
Aside from the initial shakiness at the back, I thought we showed good character to get back into the game and could take a wealth of positives home. Wataru Endo’s introduction fell under tough circumstances following Mac Allister’s harsh sending off, but I was quietly impressed with his grit and determination. Elsewhere, Diaz looks in fine form and Szoboszlai has all the makings of a vital component this season.
Heading into a tough away clash at Newcastle on Sunday, I’d be looking to field the same team and, as a realist at this stage, would take a point to build on, or even better, a repeat of last season’s big away win at St James’ Park! Up the Reds.
After a nervous beginning, Liverpool produced an assured performance against Bournemouth. Dominik Szoboszlai produced an electric, effortless performance, a display filled to the brim with pace and power. He looks already to be the player who can spark life into the Liverpool midfield. While we have benefitted from functional midfielders like Henderson and Fabinho, and flair players like Thiago and Keïta, we have not had for some time an athletic, powerful, box-to-box midfielder.
The Cody Gakpo midfield experiment has not quite worked. In a more advanced role last season, Gakpo was central to the team’s performance. But this season, when played in a midfield position, he has quickly become peripheral in games. Used sparingly, Gakpo may be an option in the midfield at Anfield when we want to unleash more attacking players on the pitch but, as an established midfielder, the early signs are that such a position will stifle his brilliance, rather than unfold it.
Against Newcastle this weekend, I expect Gakpo to make way for Endo. This switch should strengthen our defensive shape. The race for the title is already afoot and, even at this early stage, we need to keep with the emerging front-runners.
The strip sees Liverpool wear purple for the first time since the 2018/19 season. Following on from the iconic Red and remake of a 1996/96 classic, the third kit features a purple ripple pattern with black sleeve cuffs, collarbone inserts, side panelling with matching shorts and purple rippple socks.
At this point last season, the Liverpool faithful questioned everything. After such a high, was this the beginning of the end? Sure, 9-0 and 7-0 wins against Bournemouth and Manchester United gave a glimmer of hope, but the confidence we found in those performances could never be replicated.
Questions remain, of course, they always do. A problem solved today brings another one for tomorrow.
While it’s way too early in the season, it feels like some of the frailties from the last campaign are well on their way to being resolved. There’s grit and determination unseen in the last year. Giving up an early goal against Bournemouth would have seen the team collapse and flail around as they tried to get back into the match. This time was different.
They found a way to grind out a tough point on the road at Stamford Bridge, something last season’s squad had trouble doing in other away matches. This bodes well for Sunday. Newcastle’s revamp has made them stronger, high on the hog of petrodollars. A loss won’t kill off the season, but walk away with all three and we’ll send a message. Last season is firmly behind us.
We may not have taken the smoothest route to victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, but that could prove beneficial. In the end, Liverpool responded positively and excitingly to going a goal and, later, a player down. Having the ability to use adversity as a trampoline, when necessary, can’t half prove helpful as a season progresses.
Dominik Szoboszlai represented a technically-adept driving force within that process. What promising early signs the Hungarian is offering. The Reds are still, though, giving opponents too much encouragement. Sunday is likely to offer notably less room for error.
The trip to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle does somewhat leap off the page. Resplendent under Eddie Howe, the Magpies ought to provide a notable challenge. It’s one to be ready for and to look forward to.
Knowing when to go up through the gears and when to hit cruise could be crucial. Alexis Mac Allister’s sense of rhythm can prove valuable in that regard. The overturning of his red card was very welcome news on Tuesday. With additionally sound foundations, and a continuing willingness to roll with the punches, it’s an environment that Jürgen Klopp’s side are capable of thriving within.
