Elliott and Carvalho decision vindicated
Among the many sticks with which the critics have relished beating Liverpool in the wake of the Premier League defeat at Arsenal has been the respective age of the two teams.
The Gunners, younger and more sprightly, were claimed to be the new generation, the ageing Reds now heading for has-been territory. That, though, could not be an accusation made here as Jurgen Klopp looked to the future with 20-year-old Fabio Carvalho – making his first Champions League start – on the left flank and Harvey Elliott, still only 19, on the other wing of a heavily-rotated starting line-up.
If necessary given the injury to Luis Diaz and knock that restricted the minutes of Diogo Jota, it was nevertheless a sizeable show of faith by Klopp in the ability of the young duo to handle the white-hot Ibrox cauldron.
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Both found it difficult at first, Carvalho dispossessed to initiate Rangers’ opener, Elliott too often peripheral first half. They could easily have been hooked at the break. Klopp, though, saw no reason to change, and was handsomely rewarded with both integral to Liverpool’s remarkable second-half performance.
Elliott helped initiate the second goal, Carvalho prompted the third before the former delighted in notching his first Champions League goal after a lengthy VAR check.
In terms of a learning curve, this was one successfully travelled by the youngsters. Both will hope this is only the beginning.
Gomez revival continues
It was only a month ago Joe Gomez unwittingly became the standard bearer for an alarming Champions League opening for Liverpool, his half-time substitution in the harrowing loss at Napoli akin to an act of mercy.
But Gomez is made of tough stuff, evidenced by the character shown throughout a rollercoaster Anfield career now in its eighth season. And the untimely injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold has offered a first-team opportunity the defender has readily grasped with both hands.
Gomez produced an assist of which his team-mate would be proud when bursting down the right flank and curling in a teasing low cross that invited Roberto Firmino to put Liverpool ahead shortly after interval, arguably the game’s pivotal moment.
Defensively, though, is where he most impressed, subduing former Reds winger Ryan Kent and, along with the recalled Ibrahima Konate, providing Liverpool a physicality in defence that has perhaps been lacking in recent times. Gomez is becoming a very real option at right-back, even when Alexander-Arnold returns to fitness.
Konate, Virgil van Dijk’s fourth different centre-back pairing in 13 games this season, showed few signs of ring-rust on his first start of the campaign after injury, picking up where he left off in May.
And while Van Dijk’s Celtic past made him a target of jeers from the home support, the Dutchman – another to visibly grow in confidence throughout the match – had the last laugh.
Hutton left looking silly
Penny for the thoughts of Alan Hutton.
The former Rangers man caused a stir ahead of the game when he included six players from the Scottish side in a combined team of players from Ibrox and Anfield. Come full-time, though, the ridiculousness of that selection was laid bare by the yawning gap in quality between the two sides.
Klopp had warned Liverpool had a habit of finding life difficult when playing the second game in a Champions League group double header, and while there was a sense of unease throughout the first half, the Reds boss was correct in his post-match assertion it was simply laying the foundation for their dominant display after the break.
With Europa League football at the very least secured in the New Year, a draw at Ajax in a fortnight – or even a high-scoring one-goal defeat – would be enough to earn qualification to the Champions League knockout stages.
Now Liverpool will hope that, not for the first time, success in Europe can provide encouragement in domestic matters. They cannot waste this momentum.
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