He was brave and brash, but Roberto De Zerbi’s audition at Anfield failed to persuade a skeptical crowd that he had what it takes to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool’s title fight raged at Anfield on Sunday.
The Brighton boss had all the pieces perfectly prepared ahead of the match, insisting he was unsure where his future lay within the off-season, with Manchester United his potential destination.
Given his lack of management at the best level, doubters needed to see something special at Brighton on Sunday, a lesson comparable to the one they received at Old Trafford earlier within the season, to persuade them that the Italian is Klopp’s rightful heir.
However, after Danny Welbeck did his duty as a Mancunian to give De Zerbi hope of one other impressive end in the red half of Merseyside, following last season’s 3-3 draw after his Premier League arc, goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah secured Liverpool roared from behind to win for the seventh time of the season.
In no season have they arrive from behind to win more Premier League games – an indication of Klopp’s desire to say final goodbye and provides his successor, whether it’s De Zerbi or another person, the ultimate challenge.
With De Zerbi keen to make an impression, the match was all the time going to be as open as his debut in English football last season. He also had no intention of showing up to his audition empty-handed, with a transparent plan to give attention to Liverpool’s inexperienced right-back, which was evident from the beginning.
Welbeck’s sensational goal to silence Anfield lower than 90 seconds into the match – the visitors’ earliest appearance at Anfield since October 2019 – began a trend. Time and time again, Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley were surrounded by the blue and white shirts – 62 per cent of all Brighton attacks in the primary half got here from their left flank – putting the hosts under enormous pressure.
However, if Salah had taken his shooting boots with him, the visitor’s efforts could have quickly gone to waste. The Egyptian had seven shots on track in the primary half-hour, greater than in any full Premier League match this season, but none of them really managed to test Brighton stopper Bart Verbruggen.
Salah’s early profligacy had the visitors off balance, so De Zerbi remained unfazed and Brighton went cold from behind at every opportunity, even against Liverpool pressing gergen machine.
It has all the time been a dangerous strategy, but one which rewards the bravest. Had Diaz not nudged Liverpool after the corner, a frustrated Anfield might need been much more annoyed. But when Diaz improved his mood, there could only be one winner. Brighton continued to fade at the back, but without the lead to defend, nerves wore thin and passes went astray.
Nunez hit the post late in the primary half in a bizarre fashion only he could have imagined before the ever-present Alexis Mac Allister, who had been good against his former club all afternoon, headed in only before the beginning of the second half.
The goal was looming nevertheless it didn’t feel like Salah could be the one to get it over the web, not on this rare day without work, but after an excellent pass from Mac Allister he couldn’t miss and slotted home his sixteenth league goal of the season. Salah currently has 15 goals against Brighton – his favorite opponent.
De Zerbi shuffled his bag and pounced on former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, who before the match, to some mockery on social media, said he was “desperate” for Liverpool to win the league. As time expired, the veteran almost made his words look silly, but narrowly missed his goal.
Liverpool stayed comfortable and took the crucial three points, with Klopp thumping his chest once more in front of the Kop.
However, one man who could replace him could have to really upset the apple cart for the remainder of the season to persuade the military of skeptics and step into shoes filled with trophies.
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
