Liverpool just about managed to beat Burnley in their game on Sunday.
The Reds triumphed over the Clarets 1-0 thanks to a last-minute penalty that was scored by Mohamed Salah.
Throughout the vast majority of the game, Liverpool were below par with their players not all performing to the standards expected of them.
In fact, Milos Kerkez was even taken off the pitch in the 38th minute because Arne Slot couldn’t trust him not to get sent off.
Of course, it’ll take some time for their first-team squad to get used to one another, but in reality, the work they’ve been putting in during training should be showing up in games.
Mo Salah celebrates scoring Liverpool penalty against Burnley
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
At the moment, however, the Anfield outfit have been overly reliant on last-minute winners from players such as Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha.
Dermot Gallagher believes Lesley Ugochukwu’s yellow card was the right call after his foul on Alexis Mac Allister
In the game on Sunday, Burnley had 10 men behind the ball for most of the 90 minutes.
Indeed, playing this way is likely the only chance they’d have at getting anything from the clash, but with the way Liverpool play, it was hard for Slot’s men to break it down.
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However, due to how much pressure the Reds were putting on Burnley, they were committing fouls left, right and centre.
One of the worst in the game was Lesley Ugochukwu’s on Alexis Mac Allister when he came flying in for the ball with the bottom of his boot, making contact with the Argentinian’s ankle.
In the end, the Englishman was given a yellow card for the foul, with former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher giving his thoughts on the challenge while live on Sky Sports.
“I thought yellow at the time,” he said.
“I think it’s a strong tackle, he gets a bit of the ball, but he does follow through and catches the man [Mac Allister] on the ankle, but he’s low, he comes from a short distance, so he doesn’t get any intensity.
“I thought it was a yellow card.”
Liverpool must improve if they want to beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday
Liverpool may have 12 points to their name, but in reality, they’re very lucky to have that amount.
In all four of their first Premier League games, late goals have been included.
As mentioned, even Chiesa and Ngumoha have been involved in the action this term.
However, now that their Champions League campaign is set to get underway, things must improve at Anfield as soon as possible.
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, celebrates after the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Of course, they are likely to be one of the strongest teams in the competition, but considering the quality of some of their opponents, it’s clear that they need to improve.
At the moment, it’s anyone’s guess what could happen, but with Alexander Isak set to make his Liverpool debut on Wednesday against Diego Simeone’s men, things should end up going the Reds’ way once again.