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The second half of the Champions League group stages is upon us (catch all the action on Paramount+). For the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Club Brugge (yes, really) the chance to secure swift qualification looms large. For others the fight to extend their involvement in Europe beyond Christmas is firmly on. Here is what we’re keeping an eye out for:
Rangers vs. Liverpool: Reds leave too much space but get away with it
For starters, it is probably worth noting that Liverpool are likely not going to be as severely punished for their failings in midweek as they were on Sunday… and might be again this coming weekend. Either side of their trip to Glasgow they have come up against perhaps the two best teams in the Premier League, Arsenal having claimed the role of Manchester City’s understudy for themselves with a deserved 3-2 win. Speaking after that game Jurgen Klopp acknowledged that he had deeper concerns than just how his side had been beaten at the Emirates Stadium — “of course I am not happy – how can I be?” — and even if he saw some signs of a way out of the crisis that has seen Liverpool crash out of the title race. “What you build with your hand you knock down with your backside,” he bemoaned.
One might pick any number of issues that need addressing right now. Mohamed Salah looks a little off his best form and he, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, will surely have to carry a greater creative burden with the impressive Luis Diaz facing a spell on the sidelines. Liverpool’s right back had more lowlight moments defensively whilst on the opposite flank Kostas Tsimikas has not developed into the serious alternative for Andrew Robertson that he seemed to be earlier in his Anfield career.
But then, against Arsenal, there seemed to be a more profound problem than anything individual. With and without the ball, Liverpool’s spacing seemed completely askew from the outset. Take this…
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Source : cbssports
