Jermaine Pennant says what is really ‘worrying’ for Liverpool’s rivals after Champions League heroics
Liverpool dispatched Atletico Madrid 3-2 thanks to a late winner from Virgil van Dijk. It marks the fifth time in five games this season that the Reds have scored a dramatic late goal to win a game.
Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool make history with a goal and an assist inside six minutes before Virgil van Dijk scored 86 minutes later to win the game.
Alexander Isak made his Liverpool debut as Arne Slot continues to ramp up the Swede’s conditioning after he missed the entirety of pre-season amid his transfer saga.
While Mohamed Salah was in fantastic form on Wednesday evening, Ryan Gravenberch was the best player on the pitch. His performance against Atletico Madrid might be the best of his Liverpool career so far, given the way he dominated both technically and physically in the No. 6 role.
Jermaine Pennant encouraged by Liverpool’s late winners
Heading into the opening Champions League game of the season, a lot was said about how Liverpool had yet to turn in a good performance.
Aside from allowing Marcos Llorente to score two goals and terrorise Anfield again, Liverpool were quite fantastic.
Jermaine Pennant doesn’t think there is anything to worry about from Liverpool and believes their late winners this season are indicative of some truly breathtaking football coming.
Pennant said: “I think it’s reassuring. 100 per cent. I think if you can play average and still come away with three points that’s worrying for the teams around them because they can only go up and they’re only going to get better.
“And if they can do it in this manner, in this way, then what happens when the team finally gels and they finally kickstart themselves?”
Pennant then said: “They’re going to be in great shape and a great place. Talking about Florian Wirtz, I thought he was very good today [Wednesday 17 September]. You saw glimpses of it, of his talent, his touches, his sharpness, his skill around the box to drift past players. All he’s gonna need is a cheeky goal here and the confidence that’s going to bring is going to be magnificent.”
Liverpool are playing like champions and are yet to unlock their full potential
Five late winners in five games is not a fluke. Not when it’s the current Premier League champions at the start of a new season.
Should this anomaly continue, it will be worth asking further questions, but Liverpool have undergone a lot of change in the last few months.
From the tragic death of a teammate to overhauling the squad that won the title, the Reds are understandably taking some time to adjust.
Once Slot understands what his best team and tactics are, Liverpool will improve drastically. It’s not much of a crisis to be on a five-game winning streak.
Liverpool face Everton next in the Premier League which will likely be another gritty performance but if they come through with three points, the Merseysiders should be praised, not criticised, for winning a very tricky opening six fixtures in all competitions.