Transfer question won’t go away
The post-match news Wolverhampton Wanderers had agreed a fee with Matheus Nunes was greeted in expected fashion from a certain group of Liverpool fans.
It matters not that there has been no suggestion the Reds have been interested in the player. Some supporters just want a midfielder – any midfielder – given what they believe is an obvious shortcoming in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Certainly, there would have been alarm bells sounding if, at the end of last season, it was suggested James Milner would be starting the second Premier League game of the new campaign.
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But with so many injuries and niggles – and Milner having done well from the bench at Fulham last weekend – Klopp was compelled to turn to the veteran, who was reliable as ever during his hour-long stint and could even claim an assist of sorts for Luis Diaz’s wonder strike.
Of greater worry was again the display of Fabinho, way below his best on the opening weekend and whose misjudgement gave Eberechi Eze the time and space to send Wilfried Zaha away for Palace’s goal.
Jordan Henderson, fit enough only for bench duty, injected some purpose during the final half-hour and Fabio Carvalho almost won the game with a late volley. The outcome, though, has done little to allay suggestions Liverpool need to strengthen their engine room.
Phillips given big ask
If one of the few iconic images from a tortuous campaign, it nevertheless possessed an unspoken postscript.
The snapshot of a battered and bruised Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams after helping Liverpool beat Crystal Palace to secure unlikely Champions League qualification back in May 2021 came with the rider there was every chance neither centre-back would be seen again in the Premier League for the club.
It proved accurate last season and, with Williams already out on loan and Phillips seemingly also on his way amid interest from a number of clubs, few expected there to be any change this time around.
Jurgen Klopp’s concession the injury to Ibrahima Konate would influence Phillips’ immediate future seemed sensible enough. But after Joel Matip was also ruled out and Joe Gomez restricted to a substitute role after a knock, the latest visit of Palace saw Phillips making a Premier League appearance for the first time since that landmark afternoon, lining up alongside Virgil van Dijk for the first time.
He prompted a big cheer when winning his first header but the longer the game progressed, the more his lack of exposure – and pace – at this level became clear, eventually hooked shortly after the hour for Gomez, who was solidly impressive.
Phillips has consistently possessed the right attitude and never let anyone down at Liverpool. But this was always going to be a big ask.
Good harvest for Elliott
There weren’t many positives from a largely grim afternoon at Craven Cottage.
But the performance of Harvey Elliott from the bench continued the impressive form the 19-year-old had shown throughout pre-season, and earned only his second Premier League start here since his previous campaign was disrupted by serious injury.
It didn’t take long for Jurgen Klopp’s faith in the youngster to be justified, Elliott by some distance Liverpool’s most impressive performer during the first half, as much likely to be charging down an attempted clearance as weaving his way into space, and denied a goal only by Joachim Andersen’s resourceful block.
Lack of game time this year meant Elliott faded slightly in the second half but was still the Reds’ stellar performer overall.
Having waited patiently for his chances following his return to fitness in February, Elliott now looks very much the real deal despite his still tender years.
Indeed, the teenager is increasingly Liverpool’s future in what is shaping up to be in many ways a transitional season. The more the Reds see of him, the better they will be.
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