"There was a time, not that long ago, when almost all big games were stiflingly tense affairs cautious, cagey, almost unwatchable but for the exquisite tension, the sense that this was too important to expect the football to be entertaining. The goal-heavy thrillers of the Pep Guardiola-Jurgen Klopp rivalry were a welcome diversion, but they always felt oddly transgressive were we sure major clashes were supposed to be that much fun? In that sense, Liverpool's 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday fit into a long-established tradition; in time the tedium will fall away in the collective memory and all that will remain is the majesty of Dominik Szoboszlai's match-winning free-kick."
"Two other more recent traditions were observed amid the anxiety of Anfield: that Arne Slot will always somehow find a way, and that Arsenal will always somehow come up short. Few managers have ever had such a golden touch as Slot; he has a remarkable capacity to make decisions that don't just change the outcome of a game, but do so in an obvious and unmissable way. Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend's action Liverpool have not been anywhere near their best this season. They have looked open and unbalanced. They are, of course, dealing with their grief at the death of Diogo Jota. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have been sold. Five senior players have arrived, with Alexander Isak set to join that list."
Big games frequently reverted to cautious, tense affairs prioritizing result over entertainment. Guardiola and Klopp produced goal-heavy thrillers that felt transgressive compared with that tradition. Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Arsenal was settled by Dominik Szoboszlai's match-winning free-kick. Arne Slot continued to make decisive choices that visibly affect outcomes, while Arsenal repeatedly fell short in crucial moments. Liverpool have shown uneven form, appearing open and unbalanced while coping with grief after Diogo Jota's death and significant squad turnover. Despite selling key players and adding five senior arrivals, Liverpool sit top with three wins from three, often winning despite low expected-goal figures.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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