Michael Owen was left shocked by Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott’s attempted dummy that led to Brentford’s second goal during Jurgen Klopp’s side’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford in the Premier League on Monday evening.
It was a game full of drama and disallowed goals, including Yoane Wissa having two goals ruled out, before scoring at his third attempt which meant that Liverpool went into the break 2-0 down.
But that Wissa header, which just crossed the line following a cross from the right channel by Mathias Jensen, started from Alisson Becker passing the ball out from the back to Elliott, who rather than controlling it, proceeded to let the ball go through his legs thinking a teammate was behind him, only for it to fall to an opposition player.
That was the last act by the 19-year-old, who was one of three substitutions by Jurgen Klopp at half-time, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Kostas Tsimikas – it made a difference at the start of the second half because the Merseyside giants pulled a goal back, only for the Bees to add a third when Ibrahima Konate was bullied by Bryan Mbeumo
It wasn’t just Michael Owen that was left baffled by Elliott’s actions because former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves also questioned his call at that moment, as he told Premier League Productions (02/01/23 at 6:25 pm).
“This is straight after a disallowed goal,” said Owen. “I don’t know for the life of me in your third what Harvey Elliott is doing there?! Letting the ball go between his legs. He can’t have had a shout. It was never ever on.
“Then, all of a sudden, they get outnumbered at the back post and it’s 2-0 and a mountain to climb.”
Hargreaves added: “It’s a terrible dummy from Harvey Elliott. It’s not a good ball from Alisson. When you are under pressure, just get the ball long.”
LIVERPOOL’S DEFENSIVE ISSUES
This has been a problem all season long for Liverpool, and even after the World Cup break, those issues don’t seem to have gone away.
Whilst an attacker has arrived – Cody Gakpo – the January transfer window requires fresher legs in the middle of the park and another defensive brain.
That aggressive nature, cutting edge and ability to suffocate opponents without the ball has gone out of the window under Klopp.
This isn’t a short-term fix, but Klopp having to use the January and summer market to refresh certain parts of his XI and squad, before the Liverpool of old can showcase its might again.
Arthur says “bring on 2023” after “hardest year of my life”
It’s safe to say the year 2022 was not an easy one for Arthur, who has played just 13 minutes for Jurgen Klopp‘s side since his summer move, and he’s ready for 2023.
The new year presents a chance to start a new chapter and move on from what came before, and Arthur is more than ready to do just that if his social media post is anything to go by.
The Brazilian started 2022 with Juventus and featured 21 times before injury struck and a loan move to Liverpool followed, where he has since featured just once for the Reds’ senior side.
Arthur was forced to undergo surgery in October and is now closing in on his comeback, but will need to build back his fitness if he is to have any influence in Liverpool’s midfield this season.
The 26-year-old is clearly eager to learn from 2022 and see this upcoming year take a more positive turn after “emotional turbulence” in his personal life and a “complicated football year.”
His post reads:
2022 the hardest year of my life!
A complicated football year, with many injuries, many criticisms that I had to listen silently, without at least having the opportunity to expose the truth, what was really happening, many sleepless nights because of physical pain, many days inside from the hospital, the anguish of waiting for the medical report in hope that it wasn’t something that could prevent me from doing what I love most, playing football.
The year in which I took the most development as a football player to achieve my goals.
2022 was the year I dedicated the most off the field, trained the most, tried the most and was the year I had the most problems on the field.
A year with a lot of emotional turbulence in my personal life, a year that the more I fought, the more things went off track!
And the most important thing… 2022 was the year I grew the most as a person, as a son, as a boyfriend, as a friend, as an athlete!
I just have to thank for the year 2022, for all the learnings, a difficult year, a difficult phase.
But it was a year that taught me a lot of lessons and that I will carry to the next years of my life.
Thank you 2022 and bring on 2023!
Be Strong, Have Faith
Arthur has yet to return to full team training but has previously proven his commitment to getting back on track having appointed extra fitra and forgone his holidays in September to improve his fitness before injury struck.
He will be doing everything possible to get back on track with Liverpool committed to seeing out his loan deal.
Source: hitc.com
