The first part of John Aldridge's ECHO column looks back on Friday's 4-2 win over Bournemouth
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Your view on Liverpool's start to the season probably depends on whether the glass is half full or empty. Going forward, Arne Slot's side have looked sensational at times, with four different goalscorers chipping in for Friday night's 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield.
Down the other end, there is work to be done and the Premier League champions are having problems doing the basics just now. The two goals they conceded against Bournemouth saw them really exposed to quick counter-attacks and that was something we just didn't see much of at all last season.
It was the same story in the Community Shield where the team looked too open when they lost the ball and at times it looked easy for the opposition to cause problems. The good news is that this is basic, positional stuff, meaning it can be rectified on the training pitch and with Slot's side not back in action until next Monday, when they travel to Newcastle, the manager has plenty of training sessions to work on this now. He has to use that time wisely.
The team also needs to learn to be a bit more streetwise. They conceded too many needless free-kicks in dangerous areas and other teams will target that when they think it is an area they can exploit.
You look at Arsenal's strengths - they obviously came away with a good win at Manchester United on Sunday - and they look so strong defensively. Clean sheets are vital in this league and you cannot go into every match thinking you might need three or four to come away with the win, so tightening up will be crucial.
Liverpool struggled without a natural, holding midfielder on Friday, someone who is willing to stay behind the ball, sit in and sense the danger early before it develops into something more serious. The protection in front of the back four wasn't there and that is why the return of Ryan Gravenberch can't be overstated at Newcastle.
The Netherlands international was suspended for Friday's game and he was missed at times for the two goals scored by Andoni Iraola's men, even though I thought Dominik Szoboszlai had a particularly good game in the middle of the park.
Looking at Liverpool's midfield now, Florian Wirtz will start most weeks because there is no way the club are going to invest that heavily in a player only for him to be a squad option who is rotated regularly. That means the rest of them know the competition has increased and I think a key feature of this new season will be more swapping and chopping in the engine room.
The resting and the rotating wasn't seen too much in midfield last season, with Slot essentially relying on the same four players in Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones. I think we'll see much more of an even spread this season.
I thought Mac Allister played well given he hasn't had much of a pre-season and Szoboszlai looked like someone out to prove a point given the strength in depth now in midfield, but I think we'll only see these issues about being too open only improve when Gravenberch comes back into the team.
The former Bayern Munich man had a sensational season last time out, winning the Premier League's young player of the year award, and his return after two games out will solve a lot of the problems we saw against Palace and Bournemouth.
Jota tributes were perfect
The tributes for Diogo Jota throughout Friday night at Anfield were classy from Liverpool.
From the beautiful mosaic before kick-off for Jota and his brother Andre Silva, through to the songs on the Kop in the striker's honour, I hope the family took some comfort from knowing how much everyone is there for them at this difficult period.
The whole night was set up to honour the No.20 and it was just an evening of respect, where the death of the much-loved Jota is concerned. It was an emotional affair and we will see more of that across the course of this season as everyone at the club continues to remember their colleague, team-mate and friend.
The Liverpool supporters have shown what 'You'll Never Walk Alone' really means with their banners of support to Jota's wife Rute and their family.