Liverpool put in a solid display at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon, as the Merseyside club beat the Gunners 4-3 in their opening fixture of the new Premier League campaign. Though Arsenal did have their chances of scoring some goals in the match, they failed to do so once again, with Theo Walcott missing a penalty. However, the England international did make up for his mistake by giving his side the lead, but the chances missed did cost the north Londoners three crucial points.
Further, for the visitors, there were some superb performances on display from the likes of Brazilian international Philippe Coutinho and debutant Sadio Mane, which helped them overcome Arsene Wenger’s side on the night.
Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that his side can keep up the good work in the upcoming days and maintain the kind of form that they showcased in their outing at the weekend.
Here are three players from his current squad who can help the German boss ensure qualification for European football in the current campaign:
3. Loris Karius:
Simon Mignolet looked really weak against the north London giants in the opening fixture, as he lacked the confidence to command his defensive line. Apart from Moreno, if there is one weak link at the back, it has to be the Belgian keeper. With the former Germany U-21 international amongst the Liverpool ranks, it is high time to send Mignolet back to the bench and employ the available option in hand. The 23-year-old former Mainz goalie can prove to be a huge asset for the Premier League outfit if used properly.
2. Sadio Mane:
A player who impressed one and all with his debut for his new club was winger Sadio Mane, who can play a vital role in making Klopp’s side a top contender for not just a top four finish, but the league title as well. The winger scored a brilliant individual goal in the match against Arsenal, replicating his superb form from his days at former club Southampton, which even stunned the former Borussia Dortmund manager for a few seconds and the celebration that followed was just amazing to watch. Klopp knows what the player can do and will be hoping that this form does not fade away anytime soon.
1. Philippe Coutinho:
The man of the match against Wenger’s side was unarguably Liverpool’s best player, Philippe Coutinho. It was his contribution that helped them win some crucial games last season as well, though they unfortunately could not win titles. However, if Coutinho can now combine well with his team-mates this season, he will surely make a huge difference to their cause and help them qualify for Europe and more. It will be interesting to see how the Brazilian international performs in the upcoming days, with the fans definitely expecting more of the same from him.
