Surprise tactical change elevates new Liverpool star as Arne Slot anger justified

Ryan mighty in every way

In such an eventful, rollercoaster encounter, it would be futile attempting to pinpoint one definitive turning point. But in terms of the Anfield crowd, it was the moment in which they became fully invested the unlikely could become possible.

When, shortly after half-time, Antonee Robinson once again found space in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch prompted defiant cheers with a covering slide challenge to dispossess the Fulham left-back and spark a home attack.

Within seconds, the ball was down the other end for Mohamed Salah to cross for Cody Gakpo to draw Liverpool level and ignite a display against the numerical odds in the second half.

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Gravenberch was in the position to make the tackle having been shifted to centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk following the early dismissal of Andy Robertson.

If there was surprise at the tactical tweak, it merely underlined the versatility of Gravenberch, whose ability to read the game and cover ground quickly allowed him to make interventions such as the one to deny Raul Jimenez a goalscoring chance in the second half.

Come the closing stages, the Dutchman was back impressing in what is increasingly becoming his preferred defensive midfield role. All in a day’s work for Gravenberch.

Szoboszlai steps up

When the going gets tough, so they say, the tough get going. And while Arne Slot was quick to praise the collective response of his players, two in particular led by example.

The first, as has become customary, was Mohamed Salah. Peripheral in the opening stages, after the red card he carried a threat that, while not always with end product, meant he couldn’t be left unattended.

Indeed, his cross for Gakpo’s first equaliser meant he became only the second player after Steven Gerrard to reach 100 assists for Liverpool in all competitions during the Premier League era. It’s now 29 goals contributions in 23 appearances this season for the Egyptian.

In midfield, once Gravenberch was moved into the rearguard, Dominik Szoboszlai sensed the need for urgency and physicality in an engine room where Liverpool’s numerical disadvantage was perhaps most keenly felt and Alexis Mac Allister was a notable miss.

This was more like the Szoboszlai of the early months of his debut season, pressing hard, winning challenges and keeping his distribution simple while running himself into the ground. The ovation on his late substitution was richly deserved.

Unfortunately, Alexander-Arnold – the match-winner in this fixture last season – was well below his best, spooked defensively by both Robinson and Alex Iwobi and overly ambitious with too much of his passing. Given Liverpool's increasing lack of options at the back, they can ill afford a dip in form from one of their regular starters.

Slot’s justified ire

It wasn’t quite the return of the cavalry. But there was a reassuringly welcome look to the Liverpool bench here.

Despite being without injured trio Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas along with the suspended Mac Allister, the Reds were able to call upon a much stronger selection of substitutes than in the midweek Champions League win in Girona.

Jota’s impact will claim the headlines. But the sprightly cameo from Harvey Elliott made a difference, and while Jarell Quansah had a few too many nervy moments, he will have benefited from the minutes.

All will be needed in the coming weeks, starting with the League Cup quarter-final at Southampton on Wednesday. What team Slot selects will intrigue, with the Reds boss now handing over duties in the technical area to assistant Sipke Hulshoff on the South Coast after picking up a third booking of the season and subsequent one-game touchline ban for berating referee Tony Harrington.

There were no complaints about Robertson’s red card. But that neither Issa Diop nor Andreas Pereira were given more than a yellow for dangerous challenges on Robertson and Gravenberch respectively suggests the ire from the Liverpool boss was not entirely misplaced – and fed into the narrative this was an afternoon that gave the Reds an invitation to fail they stubbornly refused to accept.