Stephen Warnock singled out three Liverpool players for praise after their richly deserved 1-0 victory away to Inter Milan on Tuesday night.
The Reds overcame the injustice of Ibrahima Konate’s harshly disallowed first-half goal to benefit from a VAR decision in their favour after Florian Wirtz had his shirt tugged in the penalty area, with Dominik Szoboszlai netting the subsequent spot kick in the 88th minute.
The win lifts Arne Slot’s side onto 12 points in the Champions League standings and all but guarantees a knockout play-off round place at a minimum, with a direct passage to the last 16 still very much on for the English champions.
Warnock praises ‘outstanding’ Liverpool trio
Warnock was particularly impressed by Liverpool’s midfield at the San Siro tonight, namechecking three of that starting quartet for praise shortly after the full-time.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the former Reds defender said: “I’m just looking down at Ryan Gravenberch, who was the man of the match. I think you could have given that to him or Curtis Jones or Dominik [Szoboszlai], who were the outstanding performers.”
All of Liverpool’s midfielders were superb tonight
The one midfielder who Warnock didn’t mention also impressed tonight, with Alexis Mac Allister embodying the team spirit from Liverpool by remonstrating with Inter players when they tried to sway the referee into showing Jones a second yellow card.
All three players that the pundit mentioned were fully deserving of the praise which came their way. Szoboszlai will grab the headlines for converting the late penalty, and he was also vital in providing assistance for Joe Gomez on the right and was unrelenting with the energy that he expended.
Gravenberch was magnificent at the base of the midfield diamond, completing 100% of his dribbles and 93% of his passes, winning five duels and making five interceptions and three clearances in a tireless performance (Sofascore).
Aside from a silly booking for dissent, Jones stood out for his lively display as he forced a strong save from Yann Sommer and drove at the Inter defence at will. He was excellent with his use of the ball, completing all three dribbles and 96% of his passes, and he too won five of his duels (Sofascore).
Slot rolled the dice with the structure of his midfield, but it paid off handsomely for Liverpool on a night when all four played a vital part in securing what could be a huge result for the Reds in a season of much struggle.
Jones no chance half decent first half, went missing again in the second, lost ball on numerous occasions, lot of running around but no end product 5
You clearly have a problem with Curtis Jones, I thought he was excellent.
YNWA
1 thing slot beats klopp is how he rejuvenates gravenberch. Bayern and klopp used him differently and perhaps it’s the Dutch connection, slot got it right.
A change in the system with four midfielders . 4132 .
When you are shipping goals you either play three central defenders or pack the midfield. Something that I said would help a few weeks ago.
gravenberch sitting in front of the defence with two up top. The midfield was compact we only give away one chance. There’s no doubt that Liverpool have
played their best football in the champions league.
Where games are slower and less physical.
There’s also less pressure at the moment than playing in the premier league. Brighton next, then spurs. Is this a turning point for slot, or a temporary stay of execution. More likely the latter.
It’s like diamond 442 and gave more control but isak did not impress again. Gomez and Robertson definitely stabilize the defence. Hope slot continues the winning formula and not try something funny again during this sensitive period.
Slot has a wide choice of systems he can play for different teams, he has the players to do this!! He is just not mentally flexible to see this and use what he’s got to arrest the Liverpool slide. That is the sum of the problem that Liverpool faces right now.