By Samuel A. September 15, 2025
Liverpool scrapped out a win late into the game as Mohammed Salah’s spot kick following a careless Hannibal Mejbri’s handball gave the defending champions all three points at Scott Parker’s expense. With the Premier League champions going into the game without record signing Alexander Isak, who “needs more training time to get back to full fitness”, Arne Slot’s side seemed to be heading towards a wasteful draw, as they failed to score from 26 shots with around 80% possession – until they were literally handed the win in stoppage time.
After Lesley Ugochukwu’s red card, following a second yellow from a clumsy challenge, former Manchester United midfielder Hannibal raised his hands carelessly in the area to block a cross, leaving referee Michael Oliver no choice but to point to the spot. Salah, who did not have a shot throughout the entire game, stepped up to emphatically crash the ball into the top corner. The goal kept Liverpool at the top of the table as the only team with a 100% record – and Slot’s side have extended their scoring record to 38 games. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said after the match: “It wasn’t a game where we created a lot of chances, which is hard when you’re playing with 11 players in their 18-yard box. And when you don’t score, their belief only goes up and up again. We wore them down, we kept on playing and moved the ball around. We didn’t create a lot of chances but they got more and more tired, which is normal when you have to defend for 80% of the time. We brought in as many attackers as we could and that led to a good chance for Jeremie Frimpong, then to the penalty. That final third was occupied by a lot and a lot of players. There are a few ways to score a goal – a set-piece, transition moment or something from open play. But scoring from open play against the amount of players they had defending their 18-yard box is not as easy as some people think, no matter how much quality you have.”
The win significantly shows the steel that runs through this Liverpool side. Strength of character to accompany the skill. However, Liverpool have not quite been winning convincingly, which is an ominous sign for their challengers and a worrying sign for the club.
