Neil Atkinson’s post-match report for The Anfield Wrap following the Liverpool 2 – Brentford 0 match in the 2024-2025 Premier League season…
A couple of 2-0 results to start the season well for us.
But it is something else, something more – a blueprint for what a season could look like.
Liverpool don’t play football like they’re gods, or like our lives depend on it. Their hearts don’t beat. Their blood doesn’t pump.
This is good. This is natural. This is August. It feels like three things are in full effect:
1. At the moment Arsenal have the title of having been beaten by Manchester City.
2. He is always here, will always be here, but he is not there, he awakens and channels need, scratches need.
3. We do everything a little differently.
That will – hopefully – change over time. Hopefully, because that would mean we are finished. At some point it will be necessary, when we need it. At some point we will look City in the eye again. And at some point there will be the kind of adversity that means you have to play differently.
However, that opponent still seems a long way off, precisely because what is on offer is not at all suited to it. Liverpool played by their own rules today and I, you and Brentford may or may not like it.
The obvious joke here is “and of course Brentford messed it up” but they have actually played quite well at times and will be more than good this season. Their problem was that Liverpool were so good and so controlled.
The so good part can start with Mo Salah, who has now scored two goals in two games and is looking strong. He has been a little unkempt at times in this game but nothing can stop him from taking part. He could well come home tonight with Kristoffer Ajer on his back. He has been great and could overtake Gordon Hodgson – Billy Liddell will soon be no match for him.
Ryan Gravenberch had everything I wanted – commitment, sensitivity and a little bit of pessimism and panic. The latter is almost the most important thing. There is a lot to be said about endless composure, but we need a player who at least considers that the worst could happen and he was our guy. He was great.
I was impressed with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance. He is always on the ball and seems to be able to do whatever the game needs at any given moment.
The first goal came from a corner. I wonder if their standard plan isn’t as good as it sounds – Liverpool knew what they were going to do and almost took it as an affront. They were determined to punish their arrogance. The excellent Ibou Konate wins his header, Salah wins his challenge and then Diogo Jota was the smartest man on the pitch and timed his ball perfectly. Luis Diaz did the rest.
That’s not fair though – Diaz has done what you feared and played brilliantly beyond that. He is a man who is very enthusiastic about the new regime and seems to be an integral part of it.
They all seem to play an important role. And in the preseason, others seemed to play an important role too. Apart from Wataru Endo, there is no outlier and it was nice to see him make a cameo appearance. Conor Bradley comes on and makes his contribution. Cody Gakpo hits the crossbar with a deflected shot. Harvey Elliott looks good.
It’s August and it feels like August should feel, apart from the awful weather, but part of what August should feel like is full of promise. The season is just here for us and, who knows, maybe we’ll see our first bout of adversity at Old Trafford and then we’ll see a bit more.
But maybe not, and I like the composure so far. I like the extra contact and reassessment, and I like sudden quick movements and extraordinary 70-yard exchanges that surprise the hell out of everyone. Brentford at home is a test, but it’s not meant to be *the* test. Liverpool passed with flying colours, but so should they.
That’s it, at least for now. Get in, sit back, relax and enjoy. Take it easy.
Keep it up and we’ll need everything we’ve got come spring.
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