This is Antoine Semenyo hitting the second fastest speed of the season against Liverpool - 35.74 km/h.
What’s really interesting about the clip is that Virgil Van Dijk - the chasing defender - hits 34.94 km/h on the same recovery sprint. And wins the challenge.
He’s 35 years old.
Trey’s natural instinct is to come deep and show for the ball. Then with minimal touches breaks a line.
It looks simple but it’s all it takes to add a bit more control. Szob/Grav don’t do it enough
On Wirtz, when Arne Slot was here, Wirtz himself mentioned that Slot had given him some tidbits on why he wasn’t receiving the ball in the right areas. The point was that he was covering too much distance.
Then Iraola, about three weeks ago, said something very similar: Wirtz is too ball-attracted. He needs to learn patience and allow the game to come to him instead of constantly travelling huge distances trying to find it.
That is the issue with Wirtz right now IMO, and that is what he needs to adjust.
It also explains, at least partly, why we are seeing him dribble less. He is spending too much of his game moving towards the ball instead of receiving it in the zones where his turning, carrying and combination play can actually hurt teams.
He doesn’t need to cover those massive distances. He interprets the role that way right now, and that is probably something he needs to unlearn.
He’ll get there.
The masses won’t mention that Virgil van Dijk performance because they have become desensitised to his greatness.
100% ground and aerial duel success rate whist also having SEVENTEEN passes into the final third. Rolls Royce…
Reminder that Andoni Iraola took over a Liverpool team that came 5th with 60 points.
Arne Slot took over from a Liverpool team that got 82 points the season before.
Patience is key 🔑
What truly shows how poor this window has been for us is that if you’d told Liverpool fans at any point last season that we’d end up celebrating keeping Gakpo after receiving £85–100m bids for him, there would have been riots.
🚨❗️ Liverpool informed Cody Gakpo’s camp they would be ready to keep him at the club if there’s no replacement.
All depends on Ismaila Sarr situation.
Gakpo had agreed terms with City on Saturday but would also be happy to stay at Liverpool if club decide to close doors.
🚨Gary Neville: They’re leaving Iraola WELL short, if I was him I’d be DEMANDING something because they (Frimpong x Kerkez) will COST him. If #LFC added a DM and 2 good fullbacks, they’ll have a real chance but they’re being undermined by the recruitment.
Christ, even Gary Neville can see it #LFC 🙈