John Aldridge reflects on a number of individual performances in Liverpool's loss to Arsenal and had his says on supporters booing Jordan Henderson in the second half of his weekly column
Andoni Iraola embraces Trey Nyoni after the impressive Liverpool youngster came off against Arsenal
Andoni Iraola embraces Trey Nyoni after the impressive Liverpool youngster came off against Arsenal
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Alisson Becker has saved us many times before but unfortunately we didn't get away with that one against Arsenal. It’s a mistake that’s cost us but I don't like saying anything bad about Alisson because he's been magnificent for Liverpool.
I still think he should get another contract. But you can't put the ball at risk, can you? In big games, in any games really. It's just got to go sometimes, when the time calls for it, you have to just get rid and kick it long.
He just made the wrong decision, so it was an error. But the save he pulled off in the second half was top drawer, and made up for it to a certain degree.
I don't want to be too unkind to him. It just is an error. We paid for it, but he’ll save us again countless times during the season.
It was disappointing at the other end too, though. Alexander Isak would have scored had he not been pulled back. He’s a striker and it’s a free header, of course he would. All he had to do was get his head on that cross and it’s a goal, I don’t care what anyone else has to say.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Alexander Isak of Liverpool headers the ball as Jurrien Timber of Arsenal pulls his shirt during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 01, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Alexander Isak of Liverpool heads the ball as Jurrien Timber of Arsenal pulls his shirt during the Premier League match at Anfield(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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I think we are too nice on the pitch, we do it the right way. Which I'd rather us be. I'd rather us be the way that we are than the blatant way Arsenal and other teams do it.
But I will give Arsenal credit. Apart apart from the dark arts, they defended brilliantly. The tactics were spot on, they nullified us.
I thought we needed more from wide areas, and we didn't get that. We needed better quality but we only really put a couple of really good crosses in out of all the crosses. That was the one Alexis Mac Allister where he knew he should have scored.
The final ball's got to be better when you get into these areas against these teams. We can spend all the money in the world on these attacking players but if the quality is not there, it’s not going to happen. That let us down a bit.
Terrific Trey but midfield balance still not right
Trey Nyoni played well against Arsenal. It was a big call from the manager to start him against Arsenal, but he did well.
He's neat and he's tidy, he didn't give the ball away. Perhaps he should have got booked earlier on, he was a bit rash, but I thought he was one of our better players.
I just want to see a little bit more from Trey going forward, but at the moment he's doing the job that the manager wants him to do.
He could save the club quite a few bob, because we were all talking about Liverpool being in need of a couple of midfield players - sitting ones in particular. But he could be the answer. The lad's got a future, obviously.
Ryan Gravenberch will have to really fight for his place now. He has got to show some balls, to be quite honest.
He had a terrible season last year after he signed his new contract, whether that had anything to do with it. But he’s still a really good player.
He’s had a mixed season so far. He showed signs early on in the season that he could get back to his best, but he's dipped for some reason in the last few games.
The manager has got to get him back on track because he’s got the quality, we all know that.
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He's a Liverpool player, he's just got to fight for his place. And having Trey there now might just bring the best out of him.
I don’t think the balance is right in the midfield at the moment though. Whether it’s Wirtz or not. Don't forget Dominik Szoboszlai played in the team with Gravenberch and Mac Allister when we won the league.
So it's up to the manager to find a way to play them all there, to get the best out of them and our midfield as a whole.
But it is all right at the moment, to be honest. Certainly compared to last year. Last year I lost my love of football in many ways. The way we were getting outrun, outfought, outbattled.
At least we've got passion on the pitch now. The manager's only been there two minutes, so he’s got to be given time.
I don’t like it but fans have every right to boo Henderson
I can see the reason why some supporters were disappointed that Jordan Henderson was booed when we played Chelsea. But I can see why he was booed too.
Look, there's a massive rivalry with Liverpool and Chelsea. It’s not as big as United, but there's a massive rivalry because of everything over the last 20 years or so.
For one of the captains to go there, it's quite hard to see him in a blue shirt, kissing the badge. He's entitled to do that though.
People pay good money, a lot of money, to go to the game, so they can do what they want. Perhaps it's not the Liverpool way of old, but times have changed, haven't they?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Jordan Henderson of Chelsea reacts during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on October 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Jordan Henderson reacts during the Carabao Cup tie between his former club Liverpool and his current club Chelsea(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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To be fair, I'd rather they’d not booed him, but I can understand why some did because they're hurt because they've seen him kissing the Chelsea badge. I think it's as simple as that.
He came with Brentford and he got a hero's welcome. So, it's the rivalry with the teams. He's a Mackem, he's entitled to do what he wants, even though Liverpool will always be in his blood, obviously.
And it would have hurt him, I'm pretty sure it hurt him hearing that reception. But the reason being it's Chelsea. He's kissing Chelsea's badge and Liverpool fans don't like that. It's as simple as that.