I concluded there may not be a Liverpool man of the match in the second half. Alisson Becker was the team’s top player at this point, but I didn’t want him to win the first two Premier League games. Last season, I kept giving this honor to our gorgeous Brazilian, but Liverpool Football Club cannot.
Our 24-year-old Uruguayan striker joined the pitch to wreak damage and misery as the management threw caution to the wind. I’ve wanted to see this young kid start every game this year because I think he has the skills, power, unpredictable temperament, and ambition to lead Klopp’s Liverpool to new heights. The first three games saw him start on the reds replacements bench, raising questions about the £64m (increasing to £85m) cost. Language barrier, lack of off-ball intelligence, and poor pressing figures have painted him as a failure who cannot become a front-line system player. His potential aim for Chelsea’s profit and sustainability fighters was even discussed this week. After this off-the-bench appearance, a celebrity was born.
The numbers illustrate how the former Benfica hitman affected the game after entering on 77 minutes. He spearheaded a 13-minute attack that netted his team three points with an unstoppable intensity and speed. I stated our goalie was great, and the following shows his performance.
The man of the match award is well-deserved, regardless of playing time. With 70 minutes against 10 men, the home team couldn’t seize the initiative and break down an organized rear guard. Our German manager wanted to play aggressive counterattacking with his new number 9 at the end of what might be built as the minutes passed. The rock and roll replacement appearance must have driven his boss mad on the touch line, and two great goals will lock him into the next run of starting spots. The reds have seven points from their first three games, and with St James Park and Stamford Bridge behind them, this is virtually the ideal start. Fans’ expectations and demands have varied, but finishing fourth after three games is excellent news for everybody.
The team gained victory today with a rallying effort at crucial moments, while the Geordies lost all points to our man of the match, Darwin Núñez.