The ECHO's Liverpool fans Jury look back at a fine win in Frankfurt and ahead to a big Saturday night clash at Brentford
Mohamed Salah was named on the bench at Frankfurt
Mohamed Salah was named on the bench at Frankfurt
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Liverpool will hope that Wednesday night's big Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt will be the turning point in a season that had gone off the rails somewhat. But if that is to be the case then they'll need a positive result at Brentford on Saturday night.
Victory at the Gtech Community Stadium would see Liverpool close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to one point and move themselves above Manchester City into second place.
And to look ahead to that crucial game in west London, and look back at a memorable night in Germany, our Reds' fans' jury return...
Andrew Cullen - Bring Joe Gomez in at Brentford
There have been some calls to get Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in the team and Mohamed Salah out of the team. Those prayers were answered on Wednesday evening when the starting line-up against Frankfurt was revealed. It was important that we got back to winning ways to halt the losing momentum that was creeping forward.
Despite Florian Wirtz and Isak commanding the biggest summer fees and attention, Ekitike quietly is looking like the summer blockbuster signing. He glides gracefully past players and has a killer instinct in front of goal. His finish against Frankfurt was frighteningly composed and clinical.
Salah’s form this year is vexing. He is snatching at chances. He’s spurning golden opportunities. Last season he was clinical, this year wasteful.
The Egyptian King’s fortunes will change. He’s not a fading force as some have suggested; he just needs to be managed better. With our envious attacking armoury, we can afford to shuffle the pack.
Whilst we are getting used to the new team dynamics, we need to hold on tight to the emerging Premier League leaders. Arsenal will set the pace and Man City will be close behind.
Title foundations are built on formidable defences, and our defence has been anything but formidable. How about bringing Joe Gomez in at right back and Andy Robertson at left back for the Brentford fixture? A familiar back line may help us return to winning ways.
Rhys Buchanan - Get behind the manager and players
It was so heartening and a great relief to see the Reds get a decisive win under their belt in Frankfurt midweek. We've had a particularly tough run of games and results in Europe and domestically so that was just what we needed to relieve a bit of pressure heading into another big weekend.
Right now, it's all about togetherness and holding up our end of the bargain as fans. It gladdened my soul to see Reds on the German beers belting out the Alexis Mac Allister song at the top of their lungs around the match particularly after the Argentinian's recent struggles.
Just like Virgil van Dijk said with his Instagram post after the Manchester United defeat, now is the time to support and believe. We've been on an incredible journey and been blessed to see Liverpool win every bit of silverware in recent memory, now's the time to get behind the manager and players.
Saturday night is a huge opportunity to properly gain a bit of momentum and stay well within reach of the current league leaders.
James Noble - Mohamed Salah still has so much to offer
Wednesday night’s emphatic victory at Eintracht Frankfurt was welcome and encouraging. It felt a purposeful response to Sunday’s stinging 2-1 Anfield loss to Manchester United and to registering four successive defeats for the first time since November 2014.
Recent weeks haven’t been without positives, but Arne Slot’s tweaked approach in Germany produced several. Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones provided physicality and progression in midfield, Hugo Ekitike’s goal showcased his pace and poise, while Florian Wirtz’s assists capped an astute showing. They ought to remain prominent contributors.
Hopefully we’ll soon get good fitness news regarding Ryan Gravenberch, Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak, too.
Mohamed Salah starting on the bench, and his showing after coming on, gained understandable attention. He’s had dips in form before, of course. This spell may be the most pronounced, but perspective remains important.
His pass to Cody Gakpo was one of Sunday’s best pieces of quality and indications of our capacity to coherently function without him are healthy, with the longer term, and this season’s Africa Cup of Nations, in mind. The Egyptian King still has so much to offer – improved collective balance will aid him and others.
We’ll encounter familiar faces and a different, multi-faceted challenge at Brentford on Saturday night. The Bees’ adeptness in transition and at set-pieces are among the elements we’ll need to manage. Imposing ourselves similarly to midweek will stand us in good stead.
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