Arsenal vs Liverpool: 4 things learned | Premier League 2018-19

#3 Liverpool’s midfielders aside Milner weren't impressive

James Milner

James Milner continued his good work in a Liverpool shirt with his customary box-to-box runs, and was rewarded with a goal. He now has 75 goals in club football, from 661 matches. But Fabinho and Wijnaldaum, the other 2 midfielders of Liverpool were pedestrian with their efforts, and should have been replaced by Jurgen Klopp.

Fabinho struggled to win balls, and was given a tough time by Torreira. Wijnaldum was marginally better, as he gave cover to the overlapping fullbacks, and made some interceptions inside his own penalty box, but could not provide any impetus to Liverpool’s attacks.

As a result, Liverpool were over-dependent on long balls to their forwards, in spite of playing a 4-3-3, and hardly a move originated from their central midfield. A creative player like Adam Lallana would have come in handy, and Jordan Henderson could have been useful with his distribution as well.