Virgil van Dijk’s delight:
There it goes, then. The stat that everybody likes to roll out.
Virgil van Dijk had by no means misplaced a Premier League recreation at Anfield for Liverpool, however he has now. The Dutchman’s proud, 70-game document was extinguished right here, as Klopp’s aspect misplaced their first house league recreation in entrance of followers since April 2017, when Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace got here and spoilt the celebration.
Van Dijk was left shocked right here as Gomez’s backpass caught Alisson without warning, permitting Rodrigo the best of finishes earlier than the Kop had had the possibility to heat up its vocal chords.
But when the beginning was unhealthy, the ending was painful, substitute Patrick Bamford establishing Summerville to interrupt Liverpool hearts, with James Milner unable to cease the cross from the left and Van Dijk and Gomez sluggish to react contained in the penalty space.
There might be no hiding from Van Dijk, who all the time fronts as much as the media, win or lose, however it will have damage. He ended the sport taking part in as a No.9, making an attempt to get his head on lengthy balls ahead as Liverpool sought a leveller.
Ouch.
Fabinho:
If Van Dijk endured a bruising night time, then the identical may most undoubtedly be stated for Fabinho, whose seek for type reveals no signal of turning up an answer.
What has occurred to the Brazilian? The place has that chunk, that aggression and that class gone? The place are his legs?
He is not himself, and it confirmed as he turned to remonstrate with the Kop, who had groaned when Harvey Elliott gave away the ball in a harmful space within the first half. You will not win that battle, Fab.
Nor will he win one with Klopp, who berated his midfield linchpin quickly after for failing to grab management of one other state of affairs, permitting Leeds to nip in and guaranteeing the gang’s blood stress remained excessive.
It was no shock when Fabinho’s quantity went up on the hour mark. It could be a shock if he began at Tottenham subsequent weekend. And does not that shine a lightweight on Klopp’s issues.
Joe Gomez:
Oh how he should lengthy for one quiet, uneventful recreation.
In an up and down season, this was one other down for Gomez, whose slim World Cup hopes have to be over now except an harm disaster hits Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Leeds’ first purpose might have been unlucky, Alisson searching for to take the blame after slipping, however the truth is that the ball reached Rodrigo within the centre of the purpose, a cardinal sin for defenders when taking part in a backpass, absolutely?
It wasn’t Gomez’s final dodgy second, both, as he struggled within the air and was too weak within the sort out, too usually. He appears to be like like a participant struggling for confidence, and in a staff that is struggling for confidence that isn’t a superb factor.
Ibrahima Konate, unused right here, can anticipate the nod in opposition to Napoli on Tuesday. Klopp will hope the Frenchman can deliver the steadiness the Englishman has been unable to.