Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp felt becoming more compact enabled his side to come back from two down to draw 2-2 with Arsenal at Anfield.
Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put Arsenal in control but Mohamed Salah pulled a goal back and Roberto Firminho netted a late equaliser.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Klopp said: “I understand the threat they are on the wings with Saka and Martinelli speed-wise. It doesn’t feel massively comfortable but we have to do it anyway.
“When we started getting more compact – line higher, midfield closer, front three together – at that moment it was not as easy (for Arsenal) anymore.
“The moment we got that we were better in the game.”
Many felt the turning point was a clash between Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold in the first half.
It riled the home crowd and sparked Klopp’s side into life when they had been very much second best.
Liverpool pulled a goal back shortly afterwards and pundit Jamie Carragher afterwards described Xhaka’s actions as “absolutely idiotic” as the incident seemed to alter the course of the game.
But Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “I don’t know if that’s the case.
“We had a big chance after that and if we score and it’s 3-0 then maybe the crowd doesn’t get too excited.
“After that, they scored a goal and that changes the momentum. But we still have to come out in the second half and play more.
“The lesson is to stick to what we’ve done in the first half. That’s the way we have to continue to play and if we do that we will win a lot of games.”
The result left Premier League leaders Arsenal six rather than eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand and currently have a superior goal difference.
Arteta admitted that his players saw the outcome as two points dropped rather than a point gained.
“When you concede at the end, always dropped two points,” he said.
“But being fair, Liverpool had four big chances they could have scored from and they missed a penalty.”
Lost ball twelve times, dribbled past twice: Media tears into 3/10 Liverpool ace ‘Kloop must drop’
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been slammed by a wide section of the media after his error-ridden display.
What’s the latest on Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool?
On Easter Sunday in the Premier League, the Reds played host to Arsenal at Anfield in a game that lived up to expectations.
Mikel Arteta and co got off to a flying start as Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring after just eight minutes before Gabriel Jesus doubled that lead before the 30-minute mark.
Mo Salah managed to pull one back before the halftime break and then had the chance to equalise in the second half when Rob Holding was penalised for a foul on Diogo Jota.
However, the Egyptian dragged his penalty wide from 12 yards. In the end, Liverpool did eventually equalise through Roberto Firmino as his 87th-minute effort was enough to see the game end 2-2.
Despite the comeback, it seems not everyone on the home side got away without coming in for some security in the media.
Most notably, Van Dijk was slammed for his poor outing. For instance, in the player ratings for the Express, he was handed a 3/10 for his efforts with journalist Stuart Ballard writing: “A game the Dutchman will want to forget after making key mistakes for both of Arsenal’s goals.”
How poor was Van Dijk against Arsenal?
As Ballard points out, the Dutchman certainly could have done more for both goals as he first failed to clear the ball as it fell into the path of Martinelli for the opener, before he then lost Jesus in the box as the Brazilian headed in at the far post.
Others in the media noted his poor performance. YouTube Mark Goldbridge wrote on Twitter: “No joke Wes Brown is better than Van Dijk. Did it for longer.”
Journalist Samuel Luckhurst added: “It was ridiculous at the time and it looks certifiable now that anyone regarded Van Dijk a greater centre-half than multiple title winners. The true greats perform and win season after season. Van Dijk was great but his drop-off has been staggering.”
While Terry Flewers suggested that he ought to be dropped, saying: “Van Dijk and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] at fault again, Klopp must drop them!”
When you look at SofaScore it doesn’t make for pretty reading either. With a 6.1 rating, the centre-back was the worst on the pitch from either team.
On top of that, he lost the ball 12 times, completed just 1/5 long balls, won just 1/4 ground duels, was dribbled past twice, and picked up one yellow.