The Anfield Road Stand is expanding. Liverpool confirmed on Wednesday that they are adding a further 7,000 seats, taking the ground’s capacity above 61,000.
There is a different form of construction on the pitch as Jurgen Klopp can build from the back again. Shorn of fit senior specialist centre-backs, Liverpool had shaky foundations last season.
This season has been an illustration of renewed strength in depth. Liverpool have conceded a solitary league goal, to Chelsea. Since the international break, Klopp has swapped partnerships, giving four central defenders two appearances apiece in different duos.
If they can be grateful to their goalkeepers — whether Alisson Becker tipping Wilfried Zaha’s first-minute shot on to the post against Crystal Palace or Caoimhin Kelleher’s penalty save at Norwich on Tuesday — amid a sense some are being eased into the campaign, the days of midfielders and unknowns at the back are consigned to the past.
Nat Phillips, the surprise star of last season’s run-in, was not even granted a minute in a much-changed team’s League Cup win at Norwich. Virgil van Dijk can be transformative, but this is about quantity as well as quality.
September has brought Joe Gomez firsts: a first start since November in the 3-2 victory against AC Milan and, if it understandable he had some shaky moments then, a first outing as skipper at Carrow Road. “A massive honour,” said the England international. “After the different injuries, I’m relishing every minute and to captain the side was unbelievable.”
Injuries explain why, after six years at Anfield, Gomez only has 66 league starts for Liverpool. His best is sufficiently good that there is added reason to regret that: rewind two seasons and Gomez’s last appearance at Norwich came as he and Van Dijk were paired for 11 league games in which Liverpool only conceded once.
Gomez’s acceleration and assurance can render him ideal for Klopp’s high defensive line. There has long been the theory that he is the ideal sidekick for Van Dijk.
Liverpool 3 Crystal Palace 0: player ratings
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LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7. The Brazilian misjudged an early effort but recovered to make a last-gasp save. He never looked ruffled again and was quick off his line to kill off any danger. AFP -
James Milner - 7. The 35-year-old was given a tough examination by Zaha but rose to the challenge in his usual robust style. He even got forward and supplied a number of crosses. Getty Images -
Ibrahima Konate - 6. The Frenchman was a little nervous on his debut but showed great strength in the challenge. He grew into the game as it progressed. Getty Images -
Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman had to be alert against Benteke. It was his busiest game since returning from injury and he played a part in creating Salah's goal. Getty Images -
Konstantinos Tsimikas - 7. The Greek found Ayew a handful but came out of the duel on top. He provided an outlet going forward and contributed to the first two goals. Getty Images -
Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain was relentless in the midfield and tested Guaita. He made way for Origi with two minutes left. PA -
Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian was adventurous in the first half and a bit more cautious in the second period. A disciplined and clever performance. Reuters -
Thiago Alcantara - 7. The 30-year-old got into advanced positions and forced Guaita to make a good save. He was strong in the midfield, breaking up Palace attacks and winning the ball. He limped off and was replaced by Keita just after the hour. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah - 8. The Egyptian was a constant threat and his header led to the opening goal. He scored a deserved second and showed his selflessness by coming to Milner’s aid defensively. PA -
Diogo Jota - 5. The Portuguese smashed the ball over the bar from close range when it looked easier to score. It was not his finest performance and he was replaced by Jones with 14 minutes to go. AP -
Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese loves playing Palace. He has now scored in nine successive games against the south London club. His sharp strike from a narrow angle – his 100th goal for Liverpool – set them on their way to victory. AFP -
SUBS: Naby Keita (62') - 7. Replaced Thiago and battled manfully during Palace’s best spell. The Guinean capped his day by scoring a superb volley. Getty Images -
Curtis Jones (76') - 6. The 20-year-old came on for Jota. He showed flashes of skill and had a shot deflected away from goal. Getty Images -
Divock Origi (88') - N/A. The striker was given a short runout in the last two minutes when replacing Henderson. There was little chance for him to make an impact as Liverpool ran the clock down. AFP -
CRYSTAL PALACE PLAYER RATINGS: Vicente Guaita - 6. The Spaniard made a number of good saves and was unfortunate to be beaten by Mane after a fine block of Salah’s header for the opening goal. Not much chance of saving the second or third. AFP -
Joel Ward - 6. The full back fought hard and closed down a Jota effort. He worked relentlessly and was one of his team’s better performers. Getty Images -
Joachim Andersen - 5. The Dane was watchful and solid for most of the game. He tired towards the end as Palace drifted out of the match. EPA -
Marc Guehi - 5. The Ivorian formed an effective pairing with Andersen but, like his team-mate, was worn down by Liverpool’s pace and movement. AFP -
Tyrick Mitchell - 5. The 22-year-old had his hands full with Salah but stuck to the task. He attempted to get forward but did so with less frequency towards the end. EPA -
Conor Gallagher - 6. The 21-year-old was bright throughout. He drove into a good shooting position but could not get his feet right and ended up stretching for the ball. Getty Images -
Cheikhou Kouyate - 5. The Senegalese did not lack effort but he was unable to compete against Thiago and Fabinho. Withdrawn with eight minutes to go and replaced by Olise. Getty Images -
James McArthur - 5. The Scot kept busy but graft was not enough against talented opponents. He was taken off with 25 minutes left when Riedewald joined the action. Getty Images -
Jordan Ayew - 5. The Ghanaian tried to put pressure on the left side of the defence but did not achieve his aim. His shooting was very poor throughout. PA -
Christian Benteke - 5. The Belgian won a number of free headers in the opposition area but failed to make the most of them. Taken off in the 65th minute and replaced by Edouard. AFP -
Wilfried Zaha - 6. The Ivorian caused problems down the left and gave Alisson a fright early on. His passing was poor but his movement good. Reuters -
SUBS: Odsonne Edouard (65') - 5. The Frenchman came on for Benteke. He had a great opportunity in the area but dithered on the ball and allowed Alisson to gather. AP -
Jairo Riedewald (65') - 5. The Dutchman replaced McArthur in the 65th minute and started well but faded as Liverpool got on top. He did not give his team the boost they needed. EPA -
Michael Olise (88') – N/A. The 19-year-old entered the game with eight minutes left, replacing Kouyate. By that point the contest was over and the Frenchman was unable to give Palace a spark (no match photo available). Getty Images
And yet a first glimpse of Ibrahima Konate has suggested the same could be said of the giant, quick, young Frenchman. “We all saw what kind of potential the boy has, it's incredible,” Klopp said after his bow against Palace. “Physicality, technique, game understanding, it's all there.”
Liverpool left themselves short-staffed in the middle of defence when they did not replace the departing Dejan Lovren in 2020. They opted for short-term measures in January, bringing in Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies. Yet they have often showed a reluctance to compromise and a willingness to wait for their preferred targets and RB Leipzig’s Konate had been identified by then.
But, excellent as Van Dijk was at Leeds, Joel Matip has been their outstanding centre-back this season. “I cannot help people who don’t see the quality of Joel Matip,” Klopp said last week. “He’s an incredible player.” As with Gomez, the major regret of Matip’s Anfield career concerns injuries; he only started 17 league games in the two seasons after dovetailing with Van Dijk in the 2019 Champions League win.
Matip and Gomez have fragile frames and while Van Dijk appeared indestructible — “we all think Virg is Superman,” James Milner said — Liverpool are being more careful after his cruciate ligament injury so Klopp is likely to carry on rotating. “When you only have two [fit centre-backs], sometimes they play 10, 12, 15 games in a row,” he reflected last week. “If we don’t have to, why should we then?”
It is a juggling act, albeit with enviable options. Trips to Brentford and Porto offer intrigue who he picks but, despite the potential of Konate and Gomez, the chances are that Van Dijk and Matip are pencilled in to face Manchester City next Sunday.
