'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Saturday's late kickoff saw Liverpool secure a gritty 1-0 win against Huddersfield Town at the John Smith Stadium. This win takes Liverpool to second spot and they now trail defending champions Manchester City on goal difference.
Huddersfield started the game on a positive note as they looked to pinch the ball from Liverpool high up the pitch with their counter-pressing game. Despite enjoying a fair share of possession on the night, Huddersfield lacked the incisive pass to trouble the back four and keeper.
Mohamed Salah scored the winning goal for his side in the 24th minute after Shaqiri put in a wonderfully weighted ball for the Egyptian to pounce on. The Terriers had their first and only real chance after a few minutes when Jonathan Hogg's long-range effort struck the post.
The second half saw Liverpool and Huddersfield squander a couple of chances which resulted in Jurgen Klopp's troops securing their seventh win of the season. In this article, we take a look at the five talking points from the game at the John Smith stadium.
#1 Huddersfield already facing an uphill battle for survival
Nine games into the 2018/19 Premier League season, Huddersfield Town already find themselves in the relegation places due to their inability to score or defend against the other teams in the league.
Their struggles have been encapsulated by their inability to find the net in front of their supporters which has seen The Terriers lose four out of their five games at home.
The hosts were unlucky to not equalise in the first half as Jonathan Hogg's attempt from outside the box hit the post. Huddersfield caught Liverpool on the back foot on several occasions during the game and also squandered a glorious chance to get something out of the game as Steve Mounie scuffed his shot from close range in the 81st minute.
Although Huddersfield had a few half chances, they couldn't find the incisive pass to catch Liverpool unaware and eke out a point from the game.
Overall, Huddersfield need to pull up their socks and improve their overall game, especially their home form, if they are to have any chance to escape relegation.
#2 Liverpool's impressive defensive display guides them to victory
Liverpool have started the season in fine form as Jurgen Klopp's side have secured seven wins from nine matches, which sees them unbeaten and joint top on points with Manchester City. Most of it has to be credited to Liverpool's defence which impressed with yet another clean sheet against the upbeat hosts.
Klopp stuck with the back four that took to the field against Manchester City at Anfield. Lovren partnered Van Dijk, while Gomez was preferred to Alexander-Arnold at Right Back.
Liverpool set up in an organised manner and Virgil van Dijk proved what an asset he is for The Reds with yet another commanding display against Huddersfield. The Dutch international did a fabulous job of marking Depoitre during the game and prevented the Belgian from winning the aerial battle.
Van Dijk ended the game with a pass accuracy rate of 82%, winning 7/10 aerial duels and did not allow any opposition player to dribble past him.
Lovren continued his fine form as he partnered Van Dijk and helped his side secure their sixth clean sheet of the season. Meanwhile, Joe Gomez and Andrew Robertson held their ground well and balanced their attacking and defensive responsibilities, thereby preventing the likes of Hadergjonaj and Erik Durm from making some dangerous overlapping runs.
In the grand scheme of things, Liverpool are well positioned to challenge City for the title by proving their defensive steel week in, week out. The Reds have finally addressed the issue which was their achilles heel during the past few seasons.
#3 Liverpool's front three squander a number of chances
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp fielded a front three of Sturridge, Shaqiri and Salah against Huddersfield, with Roberto Firmino benched and Sadio Mane missing out due to an injury sustained while playing for Senegal.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 24th minute after Salah slotted home from Shaqiri's perfectly weighted through pass. In spite of taking an early lead, Liverpool failed to add more to their goal tally, partly due to some horrendous finishing and partly due to some shoddy decision making in the final third.
In the second half, Liverpool had a number of chances to increase their lead, but were let down by some terrible decision making from their forwards. Daniel Sturridge squandered some glorious chances by shooting off target and did not hold on to the ball well, much to Klopp's frustration.
Liverpool's wastefulness in front of goal was seen in the 83rd and 89th minutes when Roberto Firmino chose to pass to a man marked by two defenders, instead of feeding someone who was free with acres of space to exploit. Luckily, Huddersfield were blunt in attack and did not offer much to trouble Liverpool's back four.
However, Liverpool will certainly have to improve their goal tally as they look to leapfrog Manchester City who have a massive goal difference of +23.
#4 Huddersfield put in an improved performance, but fall short yet again
Huddersfield cut a frustrated figure after falling short despite a resolute display against Liverpool. The hosts started the game in fine fashion with David Wagner's side nullifying Liverpool's threat up front by blocking the passing lanes and employing a counter press which was working well for most of the game.
They were undone by a slick Liverpool move in the 24th minute when Joe Gomez played in a fantastic ball in between the lines which was received by Xherdan Shaqiri who assisted Mohamed Salah for his fourth goal of the season.
Despite falling behind early on, Huddersfield did not give up and stuck to their plan, creating a few chances for themselves; the most notable one falling to Hogg in the first half. The likes of Mooy, Billing and Hogg did not allow Liverpool's midfield to dominate the middle of the park. They used the diagonal ball pretty well, which troubled Liverpool's fullbacks on a few occasions.
The only drawback in Huddersfield's performance was their lack of cutting edge in the final third and their strikers fluffing some easy chances in the second half.
#5 Adam Lallana shows glimpses of his former self on his comeback
Adam Lallana was injured for a majority of last season and also missed Liverpool's previous games with a groin injury which he sustained while on duty with England.
The former Southampton midfielder was given his first start in a long while against Huddersfield and showed glimpses of his former self on his return.
Lallana did not shy away from the odd duel and used his impressive pressing skills to trouble, and dispossess the opposition players. He also made some trademark Cruyff turns which drew smart fouls and used his nous to link his side's midfield and attack.
He finished with a pass accuracy rate of 82%, made a key pass, successfully completed 3/3 dribbles and drew three fouls in some vital areas of the pitch before being hauled off in the 69th minute.
Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that Lallana returns to his best and remains injury free as a fully fit and firing Lallana could play an important role in helping Liverpool compete on all fronts.
