21 hours ago
11 
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
After the Reds give themselves disadvantage in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi final, we dig into some of the winners and losers on the night.
Despite a sloppy and sluggish opening hour to proceedings, it still took a refereeing non-intervention to hand Liverpool their second loss of the Arne Slot era, as a player who should have been sent off scored the winner while the player he fouled was receiving treatment on the sidelines. It was the sort of farcical abstention of responsibility that typifies English refereeing in the modern era, bolstered by a VAR system that is neutered from intervening in matters of yellow cards, and it was as decisive in the result as the last time Tottenham beat the Reds.
Before the goal, a game of football happened, one between the two highest scoring teams in the alleged best league in the world, and it was something of a stinker, with neither side producing particularly impressive spells of possession, relying instead on defensive errors to create their chances.
With all that said, then, we provide a quick word on the winners and losers on the night.
Winners
Trent: Subject of much hate and dismissive rhetoric in the past few days, Trent Alexander-Arnold reminded everyone exactly why he has established a reputation as one of the premier right-backs in the game, and it was remarkable just how much more potent the Reds looked in possession after his introduction — alongside Darwin Núñez and Luis Diaz — on the hour mark.
The vision, aggressive playmaking, and ability to spray dangerous passes with either leg put the contract rebel scamp in stark contrast with the one-footed, more hesitant display from deputy Conor Bradley, who was consistently targeted by a home side intent on pressing him towards the sideline, where he was dispossessed four times in his time on the pitch.
Trent generated nearly three times as many passes in the final third in 30 minutes as his replacement managed in twice that time, and while none of them lead directly to a shot on goal, they helped push the visitors past the opposition press and up the pitch, where sustained pressure lead to their best chances of the match.
He might not sign a new deal with the club, and any player can be replaced, in the aggregate if nothing else, but Reds fans should not be under any illusions that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not a special talent and won’t be missed should he move on.
Losers
Justice: Another match decided entirely by abhorrent refereeing. Liverpool’s performance may not have deserved a win tonight, but teams should still have to beat them to cash their own dubs, and having a result simply given away by a referee rankles regardless of the performance that came before it.
What Happens Next
The Reds host League Two relegation candidates Accrington Stanley in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, in a match that is expected to feature exclusively second string players and youngsters, before a chance to avenge their only Premier League loss of the campaign arrives next Tuesday, when they travel to the Midlands to take on high-flying Nottingham Forest in a bid to increase the gap to the chasing pack.
