When Gabriel Martinelli attempted to drag the injured Conor Bradley off the pitch on Thursday evening, the lack of response from Liverpool players was eye-catching to say the least.
Sure, there was a bit of a shove from Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ibrahima Konate offered the most forceful reaction, but that was about it.
Just as he did against West Ham, when Lucas Paqueta seemed determined to get himself sent off last November, Alisson Becker even raced across to intervene in aid of the opposition player.
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Conor Bradley and Leandro Trossard during Arsenal v Liverpool - Premier League
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While that is noble of Alisson, and both incidents involved his colleagues from the Brazil national team, the goalkeeperās peace-keeping attempts are symptomatic of a wider issue within the Liverpool squad: the Reds are simply far too nice.
This has been a problem throughout their recent spot of bad form, where they have refused to assert the necessary physicality, and has led to Liverpool becoming something of a soft touch. Arne Slot is very aware of the issue having referenced it once again on Thursday night. And while no one wants players losing their heads a la Martinelli, the Reds would do well to show a little more fight.
Liverpool need to show their nasty side
When you are winning games of football as comfortably as Liverpool did on their way to last seasonās Premier League title, you do not need to bare your teeth all that often.
But the problem with that is that when things do turn nasty and youāre struggling to get results on the board, you are less equipped to battle it out during games. When incidents such as Martinelliās happen, Liverpool just do not do enough to back up their teammates.
Gabriel Martinelli appeals while Liverpool's Conor Bradley sits injured during the Premier League match between the two teams at the Emirates Stadium.
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āIām fuming with Martinelli,ā Gary Neville said live on Sky Sports. āI donāt know how Liverpool players didnāt go over and whack him to be honest with you.ā
Ultimately, Neville showed more anger about the situation than any of the Liverpool players on ā or off- the pitch. Cool heads were needed as they aimed to protect a hard-fought clean sheet in the final minutes of the game, but some more passion for Bradley would have been nice.
Slot also picked up on the fact after the game. The Liverpool head coach has often referenced that his players can sometimes be too honest in challenges, and he was clearly frustrated again by a lack of nastiness at Arsenal.
What would you say to Gabriel Martinelli if you had the chance TONIGHT? š”
DISGUSTING behaviour
Gabriel Martinelli appeals while Liverpool's Conor Bradley sits injured during the Premier League match between the two teams at the Emirates Stadium.
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āI cannot ask from Gabriel Martinelli in the 94th minute when itās so emotional for him to understand that he plays Liverpool and that is a team when they are being held, held, held against Leeds United we donāt even go to the floor, if we play West Ham United and Paqueta tries everything to get a second yellow card and my players try to drag him out,ā said Slot.
When the times are good, thatās fine. Nobody really wants to see players getting riled up and kicking off for no reason. Liverpool do not have a single loose cannon in their squad and generally that is a good thing. But during their dismal season so far, it would have been nice to see Darwin Nunez, for example, piling in and getting everyone going.
There is a line to tread with these things, but far too often Liverpool are just on the wrong side of it.
Virgil van Dijk must bring fire back to Liverpool
In the same way that Arsenalās gamesmanship and ānastyā tactics are a reflection of their technical area-leaving, relentlessly ungracious manager, Liverpoolās placidity on the pitch is very much an extension of Slotās character.
Liverpool were nastier under Jurgen Klopp, thereās no question about that. With the likes of Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson regularly in the team, how could they not be?
Who was your Man of the Match during Liverpoolās battling draw with Arsenal?
Much better from the Reds today!
Milos Kerkez battles with Bukayo Saka during Liverpool's Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
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While Klopp had something to do with that, though, it ultimately feels like the players are the ones who need to step up here. Slot is even asking for it himself, so it is not an instruction from him that his players remain cool at all times.
As a result, it has to come from the captain. Like Slot, Virgil van Dijk is as calm as they come, just ask the Anfield songwriters. But the Dutchman can certainly pack a punch if he wants to, anyone who needs a reminder of that need only watch the way he catapulted Leandro Paredes during the 2022 World Cup quarter-final.
Van Dijk is bigger than most of his opponents, stronger than them too. When an incident calls for the protection of his teammates, it would be nice to see the captain throw his weight around a little more. From there, the rest of the Liverpool squad should follow. It is time for this to change.
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