Liverpool have developed annoying Premier League knack that Arne Slot must amend
There is little that Liverpool can be criticised for right now. Unbeaten in 22 matches, seven points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand, the best defensive record in the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah is arguably in the best form of his career with 19 goals and 15 assists in 25 matches, and is one of a swathe of players to have elevated their performance levels under Arne Slot. Most points of concern actually come away from the pitch.
Renewals for Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have yet to be sorted while some questions hang over the acquisition of Federico Chiesa amid his fitness issues. But there is one mildly annoying in-game problem the Reds have been culpable of.
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Liverpool have conceded first in six Premier League matches this season, but half of them have come in December alone. Aside from the Nottingham Forest defeat - their only of the campaign so far - the team has managed to get a result each time, regardless.
Liverpool secured a draw away at Arsenal in October before coming back to win against Brighton & Hove Albion in November. The league games in which Liverpool have conceded first this month have all had caveats.
The club were rolling towards a 3-2 comeback win away at Newcastle United before Caoimhin Kelleher produced a rare error late on to allow Fabian Schar to equalise. The 2-2 draw with Fulham was condemnable given the hosts played most of the game with 10 men.
But even before Andy Robertson’s dismissal, Liverpool had conceded first with 11 players on the field. The same happened against Leicester City on Boxing Day, with Jordan Ayew opening the scoring inside six minutes.
Of course, Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners and, as outlined above, conceding first has rarely been catastrophic for Slot’s men so far. But this irking knack allows belief into the psyche of the opposition that needn’t be given.
To emphasise this point, Liverpool have won every game in which they have scored first this season. No draws or dropped points.
When you have the firepower that the squad has at its disposal, it is easy to ignore and sweep aside the issue of conceding first. Liverpool may have lost only once this season but Forest should stick in the mind as a reminder of what could happen.
Some will call this nit-picking and maybe it is. After all, Liverpool look like they can beat anybody right now.
But this point is being raised with a mind to potential hurdles that may crop up. Should Salah get injured or lessen his output - or any other attacker for that matter - staying tight at the back becomes more important.
Liverpool can’t lose if they don’t concede. Six clean sheets in 17 Premier League games is fine but not great. Fine margins decide title races - eight of Liverpool's victories across all competitions this season have come via a one-goal margin.
To be clear, it is not the number Liverpool are conceding - having shipped just 17 in 17 league matches - but when they are conceding goals. A team with a sucker-punch philosophy who then camp behind the ball might be more dangerous games the Reds come across this campaign - so it's a problem that, at least, needs mulling over.