Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app.
That's what Liverpool can do against a deep but not particularly organized defense.
We complain about deep defenses all the time. Sometimes Liverpool finds a breakthrough because of the magic front three. As against Chelsea or, to a lesser extent, Fulham in the last month. Sometimes it's set plays, as at Cardiff last week. Sometimes it's luck, as with Origi against Everton.
And sometimes that deep defense just isn't good enough.
It's been awhile since we've seen those long poke, prod, and pass sequences leading to goals. We got three of them on Friday. Liverpool's second goal saw 22 passes over more than a minute, the third 12 passes, the fifth 20 passes. Liverpool pushed and pulled Huddersfield around before delivering a stiletto between shoulder blades time and time again.
It wasn't blitzkrieg. It wasn't set plays. It was jab, jab, jab, jab, uppercut. It's nice to be reminded that Liverpool can still do so when the opportunity presents.
Look at how damned open Liverpool players were for the final ball.
Mané probably shouldn't have that much space between center-backs. And maybe get closer to Andy Robertson.
Yep, he's between defenders caught on the back foot again. And maybe get closer to Jordan Henderson.
At least Durm's watching Salah, about to make a run behind in the top left corner, but maybe somebody tell Kongolo that he might need to help here.
Of course, an early goal helps. The last time Liverpool scored in the first minute of a match was in the 5-1 win over Arsenal back in 2013-14, Skrtel hammering in Gerrard's free kick after 50 seconds – another five-goal romp. Scoring after 15 seconds is the quickest that Liverpool have struck in a match since 1984. It's probably not the best way for the worst side in the division to begin a match at Anfield.
And none of this is to take away from Liverpool's overall quality. Both in general play – the complete control of proceedings, the comfort at the back, – and in all five goals, both in chance creation and conversion. And the creation came from more of the same notes we've hit in recent weeks.
Those crosses though; Liverpool have scored 32 goals from crosses by my count so far this season. Assists from fullbacks; 66 of Liverpool's 104 goals in all competitions have been assisted, and Robertson and Alexander-Arnold are responsible of 24 of those 66. 36%, more than a third. Woof. And assists from Jordan Henderson, who's now got four plus a goal in his last 400 minutes. And an opening goal from pressing, thanks to an opponent who actually allowed Liverpool to press in the final third early on.
It was exactly what Liverpool can do, and what Liverpool wanted to do, from the absolute start to finish. Complete control, thankfully reflected in the score line. Assists from Liverpool's top creators, goals from Liverpool's top scorers. Another clean sheet for van Dijk – the newly minted PFA Player of the Year – Alisson, et al, and Lovren coming back into the side without issue. Continued improvement from Naby Keïta – another goal, a better understanding of Liverpool's pressing timing and rhythm, and Liverpool's top tackler with Fabinho rested – and a well-rounded midfield with Keïta both destroying and running from further forward, Henderson in a more advanced role, Wijnaldum more than capable as the #6, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning after a year out.
It was as much as we could have hoped for, and almost as good as Liverpool can be, at this point of the season. With two league games left to play and a Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Unfortunately, it may not be enough.
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