For 83 minutes, most inside Anfield or those sat watching on sofas around the country were ready to label this a ‘borefest’.
Two title challengers going head to head early in the season with two wins from two, a draw would have been no catastrophe and it would have kept the direct rival for the championship at arm’s length.
But Liverpool and Arne Slot, as we learned on Monday in Newcastle with the clock ticking towards 100 minutes, do not do draws.
Why settle for a point when you can push for all three? You don’t win the Premier League with that mentality, of course.
So it is Slot and Co who head into the first international break as the only team in the division with maximum points. The champions, again, look like the team to beat after Dominik Szoboszlai’s late free-kick winner saw them beat Arsenal.
Daily Mail Sport‘s Lewis Steele assesses the key talking points from the Reds camp…
Liverpool look the team to beat again after clinching a last-gasp victory against Arsenal
Arne Slot’s side don’t do draws and they were determined to push for all three points
Is Szoboszlai the answer to missing Alexander-Arnold?
One problem Liverpool have had this season is the question over how to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creativity and unorthodox style from right back.
Is it through Florian Wirtz in midfield? Can it be through Hugo Ekitike dropping deep? Will the new flying full backs give them a different dynamic?
All these questions still stand but now we can say Szoboszlai, though not a right back through trade, has just put in two stellar shifts in the back four, both in a defensive and attacking sense.
The Hungary captain may have scored one of the best free-kicks in recent memory but this overall performance also made one wonder: could Szoboszlai be a realistic choice at full back even when Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are fit?
It is certainly something to consider. He was solid against Newcastle and excellent in this win over Arsenal. He won 100 per cent of his duels and tackles, made five recoveries and six clearances, with a 92 per cent pass completion rate.
Whether he is a realistic option or not, there is one thing for certain: Szoboszlai is extremely important to this team wherever he plays.
When asked about him after the game, Slot said: ‘Dominik has always been the player that… he understands what a Liverpool player should look like. Give 100 per cent if you wear this shirt. Today he did nothing wrong, in a new position.
‘It tells you about his mentality.’
Dominik Szoboszlai ably stepped in at right back and won 100 per cent of his tackles and duels
Szoboszlai may be a realistic right back option alongside Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley
Konate and Kerkez silence doubters
There has been a lot of chatter this week about Liverpool’s defence from fans and the media – Daily Mail Sport included! – and it was fair.
The Reds had conceded two goals in every game they had played this season including the Community Shield and they were shipping chances.
But this rearguard display was as good, if not better, than the defensive performances that laid the foundations for their title-winning campaign last year. And two performances stood out in particular in a week that they had been criticised.
Ibrahima Konate, who was ‘not at the races’ according to Jamie Carragher last week, was imperious. The Frenchman bullied the big striker Viktor Gyokeres, who barely had a sniff because of Konate’s defensive play.
It was a shame to see Konate limp off injured in the second half but the player is hopeful that it is nothing more than cramp.
The same praise must be given to Milos Kerkez who has had an iffy start to his Liverpool career after a £40million move from Bournemouth. Against Arsenal, though, the Hungarian looked like a shrewd signing.
He was bought for his attacking power but the 21-year-old caught the eye here with his defensive ability. Noni Madueke, the quick and direct Arsenal winger, ran at him time and time again – but Kerkez came out on top.
While on the topic of defenders, we must reserve a word for Joe Gomez. Liverpool’s longest-serving player is lacking match sharpness and there is talk over his future with clubs keen on signing him but the Englishman put in a top-quality cameo here.
Ibrahima Konate was imperious and bullied Viktor Gyokeres, who didn’t get a sniff
Milos Kerkez has had an iffy start to life at the club but he got the better of Noni Madueke
But can Wirtz still do more?
Absolutely.
Wirtz dazzled in pre-season and left some to tip him for Premier League player of the season but after three games, he has looked rather average.
Not necessarily bad, just not effective yet.
The German knows the spotlight is on him more in England and is still finding his feet in this league – so it is fair to say we may be able to make a more rounded judgment on Wirtz after the next round of fixtures in between international breaks.
Asked if he went off injured when he almost crawled off the pitch with cramp, Slot said: ‘It wasn’t injury. It was a “welcome to the Premier League”. After 85 minutes, I don’t think he knew he could have cramps in so many different places!’
