Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign with a narrow 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid and two former players are impressed with one aspect of the victory.
Liverpool do not always make things easy for themselves. A stoppage time winner was required against Burnley last weekend and this was the case once more against Atletico Madrid.
However Steve McManaman is not bothered by how late Liverpool score. Rather, the club’s former winger is just happy to see Arne Slot’s team winning matches.
He told TNT Sports: “They [Liverpool] haven’t been at their best at all so far this season, but that’s understandable. Lots of new players, and it’s going to take a little bit of time, but to get 12 points out of 12 in the Premier League, not playing great is a great sign.”
“A lot of people have made something about late games, but it doesn’t matter whether you scored in the first five minutes or the last five minutes. As long as you get the victory, teams get tired late on psychologically, they start to drop deep. If one seems dominant, the other team will drop deep to defend their goal. So becomes chance after chance after chance.”
“And mentally and physically, you have to be really, really strong. And that’s what Burnley lacked the other day. They just switched off a little bit. But that normally happens with the lesser sides.”
McManaman is keen to give Liverpool the credit they deserve, highlighting how Slot and his players deserved the victory.
He said: “So it’s not, it’s not necessarily a term of Liverpool, you know, getting a bit of fortune, the fact that they keep on going. The manager makes good decisions, good substitutions. That’s what drives them home in the end.”
Michael Owen agreed that there is nothing wrong with leaving it late to score a match winner. In fact, he even claimed a late goal was more favourable than scoring early and having to defend a lead.
“And I think you’d actually prefer to score later,” McManaman continued. “I mean, it gives you such a good feeling in the dressing room afterwards. The worst thing in the world, you score early and then you may be hanging on for the last 15 minutes.”
“I think your confidence can sort of have a way, a little bit of that’s happening, but when you’re the aggressor, when you’re piling the pressure on, and then you score late on, it gives you a great feeling in the dressing room.”
Despite the complimentary remarks, McManaman did point out how his former side have failed to play their best football so far this season.
He said: “They didn’t play well against Newcastle, they were fortunate against Newcastle. They were not necessarily fortunate against Burnley, they had 81% possession. But against Bournemouth, they were not the best and against Newcastle, they were not the best and they scored late. So they do have to address that, don’t they?”
Slot will indeed be looking at what he can do to get his side winning more comfortably, but he will not be too concerned, considering his team have won all five fixtures this season.
Next up is the Merseyside derby and the reigning Premier League champions will be looking to continue their winning streak, as well as their excellent record against Everton at Anfield.
