A 'winning machine' - why Liverpool did not miss stars

Many people were worried about Liverpool's ability to score goals without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah on their team. However, their recent match against Bournemouth proved that they have the capability to compensate for those absences and still generate opportunities to score.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp possesses a vast array of gifted players in the attacking lineup, yet it is of significant importance for him to have Diogo Jota in top form and physically fit, especially with Salah absent due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Jota's finishing is the most remarkable aspect of his game. He has performed exceptionally well in open play after joining Liverpool in 2020, which places him in the same league as the top strikers in the Premier League.

He hardly ever fails to deliver and he showed his skills once more on Sunday by scoring two excellent goals in Liverpool's dominant 4-0 victory. These are the types of goals that Salah is typically known for producing.

In the middle part of the field, the Reds have made a lot of changes this season, especially with Alexis Mac Allister frequently playing as the holding midfielder.

Similar to many others, I do not believe that is his optimal position - he achieved a total of ten goals for Brighton in the previous season while playing in a more forward position - however, he demonstrated during the match against Bournemouth his impressive capabilities in attacking.

Like Jota, Mac Allister has recently returned from an injury and made his third start after being out for most of December. However, he also appeared to be in good form.

Once more, the situation has presented an opportune moment for Klopp as Alexander-Arnold's knee injury in the FA Cup victory against Arsenal halted his exceptional distribution of the ball from the midfield that was supplying the Liverpool forwards with chances.

One of the most outstanding characteristics of Alexander-Arnold is his courage when in possession of the ball and his eagerness to create opportunities. He does not hesitate to take risks even if it means making errors.

Liverpool had to find an alternate player to take charge in the absence of their regular player when they faced Bournemouth. This replacement needed to exhibit the ability to handle the ball with composure even in difficult situations and execute similar tactics.

Mac Allister performed admirably by exhibiting a forward-minded approach and executing some exceptional passes, particularly in the initial half. His overall impact on the match helped Liverpool establish dominance and further cement their position atop the league standings.

"Nunez Doesn't Require 25 Goals Per Season"

Jota and Mac Allister gave impressive performances during the game against Bournemouth, however, there were numerous other advantageous aspects worth highlighting for Liverpool.

Scoring a couple of goals has certainly boosted Darwin Nunez's morale, but I believe the level of pressure on him to score might not be as high as perceived by the public.

One of the remarkable qualities of Nunez is his ability to remain positive and composed even when he fails to convert his opportunities. This is an excellent trait for a striker to possess.

Another advantage he has is that he is a member of an excellent team that creates numerous opportunities, and many other teammates also score.

Currently, it is not mandatory for him to score 25 goals per season for Liverpool to achieve success.

Liverpool used to have Salah as their main scorer when they won the Premier League and became champions of Europe. At that time, they also had the support of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. However, their midfielders did not contribute as many goals as they do currently.

This implies that Nunez has a chance to develop and grow within the team, and it's crucial for him to continue making progress.

Can Forwards Improve Their Finishing Skills?

It's evident that Klopp has a strong fondness for Nunez, and it's apparent that the Liverpool supporters hold him in high regard.

I believe that some qualities in players make them appealing to many people. For instance, having a surplus of vitality and a readiness to put in effort is one of those attributes, which Nunez possesses.

He always perseveres and has an impressive physical appearance due to his speed and strength. He catches everyone's attention and it's impossible not to acknowledge this aspect of his performance.

Afterward, you move on to the touchy topic of his final touches and technical skills, with varying viewpoints on how much he can improve in those areas.

When discussing up-and-coming strikers such as Nunez in the Premier League, many express the belief that they will improve as they gain experience and play more matches in due time.

I had a conversation with Michael Owen and Gary Lineker, who were more skilled at scoring than I was, about the ability to enhance specific goal-scoring methods.

It was quite fascinating to realize that when it comes to completing a task, either you possess the necessary skills or you don't. This caught my attention because I previously assumed that completing a task was simply a matter of possessing the required aptitudes.

My interpretation of their statement is that if you are a forward player, during the initial years of your profession, you should assess your own performance and identify which types of shot execution you are more proficient at compared to others.

After observing Nunez lately, it seems reasonable to state that he feels more at ease executing quick, instinctive shots rather than taking his time to decide.

Therefore, he is able to devote himself to his work during the time he has available and consider altering his approach under those circumstances.

I can recall my time at Liverpool when Robbie Fowler frequently scored many goals from a difficult position near the goalpost. I inquired if his success was due to chance.

According to him, he never aimed for the far post while taking a shot at the goal. He always preferred to hit it with maximum force towards the nearer post of the goal. He figured that this tactic would work because most goalkeepers tend to anticipate the shot to be directed towards the far post. Additionally, hitting it towards the nearer post is more convenient and accessible.

It occurred to me that it was logical why he kept hitting them so forcefully. These are minor aspects of Nunez's performance that he can work on and modify.

In the end, I believe that the top goalscorers in the world possess an innate ability that cannot be learned: they remain collected when they're facing important moments and big matches, while others may be overwhelmed with nerves.

Right from the beginning, Michael Owen was blessed with lightning speed. However, when it came to scoring goals, he seemed to have a unique ability to slow down time in those crucial moments. This phenomenal skill was evident in all major championship matches that he participated in.

It remains to be seen if Nunez can improve on that area, but he is situated in an ideal environment to focus on it.

Reds Are Energized Again!

After emerging victorious in the 2022 FA Cup, Klopp labeled his squad as "mentality monsters" and it appears that they have regained their confidence following their struggles in the previous season. Although they triumphed without much difficulty on Sunday, it is worth noting that they have frequently rebounded from being at a disadvantage during matches.

What really stands out to me is that their recent success is due to their regained physical prowess on the field. This has transformed them into a dominant force, currently holding a five-point lead at the top of the league standings.

I'm not certain if any changes were made during pre-season that impacted their performance, or if the recent additions to the team infused a fresh source of enthusiasm, but they resemble Klopp's most impressive teams from previous seasons with their determination and fervor.

During the previous season, specifically in the beginning stages, I observed them and believed they appeared unenergetic. Presently, throughout the entire playing field, they appear lively and active, whether it be repositioning themselves, aggressively attacking, or executing passes.

Perhaps the presence of intense competition for positions has contributed to this improvement. I can confirm that it certainly had a positive impact on my own development when I was an athlete.

Among all the players in the midfield and the front three, Salah is the only one who is certain about his playing time.

It seems like Liverpool is doing very well right now. When the season began, no one believed they would be leading the league and still be competing in all four tournaments by the end of January. I didn't think it was possible myself.

It's common to anticipate that new players will need some time to settle in and develop chemistry on the field, especially in the midfield position where Liverpool made major changes. Unfortunately, they were not able to acquire two players they had hoped for, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, as they ended up signing with Chelsea instead.

They ultimately selected Wataru Endo, who wasn't their initial preference, but surprisingly, he has been performing well.

However, this is where the real effort begins. Klopp and his team are aware that they have secured a favorable position, but they cannot afford to become complacent.

I don't think they'll win this time either. Klopp's squads have suffered defeat twice in the final match of the season against Manchester City, in both 2019 and 2022. Regardless, I believe City will continue to be dominant in the long run.

During an interview with Chris Bevan from BBC Sport, Danny Murphy discussed his perspective on the current state of football.