We've scored an average of 2 goals per game, with a goal difference of +16. We're also unbeaten and top of the league. You would think we were down the bottom of the league the way some people go on.
I don't get all the negativity about the game either. It was a open, free flowing contest. VVD could have had a hat trick, we hit the post twice, robbed of a goal and a penalty by the ref, took a point home and went top of the league. We've played worse this season and won.
Don't think the Arsenal pen claim was a penalty on first viewing, but if it was, we can claim similar when VVD was cleaned out by the keeper when his header hit the post. Either it's a goal or a penalty, and we got neither. Ref is right in front of the incident ffs.
It's a good point. We'll beat them up at home next month. It's a sign of the times when people are saying things about us, on the night we take a vital result away from home and go top of the league.
A few months ago, before the start of the season, we were having this debate with a friend who is also a Liverpool fan and he told me that this team with Fabinho and Keita with that front three would not only be solid at the back, but also have the best attack in the league.
I remember telling him that there is a huge difference in how both teams approach games and how that manifests itself in clear cut chances. City press, but they also dominate possession, always looking to be positive and at the end, they get a lot of goals that are tap ins. Klopp on the other hand would rather sit and press, even cede possession and encourage teams to start at the back before pressing for a chance to counter. Most of the games this season have seen teams sitting back.
That belief that you see in City, Chelsea, Arsenal where they go out, have possession, throw bodies forward, take risks with the ball even when it comes to playing from the back is just lacking. It is hardly negativity on this game alone, it is a complaint that bar maybe four games all season, across all competitions, performances have not been good......leave alone talking about great.
I feel sorry for the manager especially when it comes to the midfield, but other than that, the team has not been positive most of the season. With Salah and Mane, you always have an out ball and that will always guarantee chances because of their sheer pace.
On this game, there were chances that were there for the taking, and the Mane goal should have counted. I do not think that the VVD chance and the clean out afterwards was a penalty, that is reaching. On the balance of play, Arsenal had their openings and their chances too. Mkhitaryan should have scored, Xhaka should have done better with that cute corner set up they ran, Aubameyang heading over in the first half, Lacazette not lifting the ball over a rushing Allison off a cut back. Mkhitaryan not having the presence of mind to cross to Aubameyang and the sheer multitude of blocks that came in. It was similar to the games against Chelsea and City where Allison kept the team in the game.
On the officials, they did not have a great game for both sides. That goal not counting was huge, but also not sending Fabinho off at least on two occasions was something that helped.
So, it is great that the team despite the poor performances is currently top of the table, and that this as I have also pointed out was a good result. It does not take away from the fact that there should be an improvement to performances.