All the objectives of the Third Round were met last night, more evidence that Nyoni is a genuine midfield rotation option and Koumas shows that he can do more than just run around energetically for the last 10 minutes of a game. Here are my three thoughts on the match.

Liverpool’s biggest problem yesterday was their midfield. Between them, according to Opta, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai managed only 14 passes in aggregate to Wirtz, Barcola and Muñoz with none to Isak.

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The press is back- without always capitalising as they should Liverpool were constantly harrying Atleti out of possession in their half, Rio bests Llorente and, after only 33 top-flight appearances, Jacquet strolls though his Champions League debut

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The best Liverpool finisher since Fowler, Liverpool do have defensive cover at right-back and again have a manager who trusts young players. Here are my three thoughts about the match

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Like it or not, Liverpool’s transfer policy, at the start of the summer window, was to replace Konaté with someone who could also play right-back and to add two wide attackers with pace. That is what they did with the acquisitions of Araujo, Barcola and Muñoz.

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Even without Ekitiké and Bradley, Iraola will have 18 ‘trusted’ outfield players going into this season. In the 2024/25, title winning season, Slot had 15 and, at the start of the ‘near quadruple’ 2021/22 season, Klopp had 16. An in-depth squad size analysis.

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LFC’s draw with Forest showed why Szoboszlai needs to be Liverpool’s ‘bit-part” player rather than their ‘main man’, the temporary solutions to LFC’s right-sided attacking problems and LFC’s uncanny ability to help the opposition’s high profile attacking signings to end their scoring droughts