Coutinho and Lallana star as irresistable Reds give Hull hell
Again, it was dizzying. Again, it was dazzling. Liverpool’s attacking juggernaut rolls on, leaving helpless opponents crumpled underneath.
In his pre-match briefing, Jurgen Klopp had insisted it was a myth his men become muddled against teams determined to defend deep. And at Anfield against Hull City on Saturday afternoon, the hosts proved the manager’s assertion correct during a 5-1 onslaught.
They illustrated the most effective way to bypass a parked bus is to dismantle it completely, and they were ruthless in doing so.
As has been their template, Klopp’s side were authoritative from the moment referee Andre Marriner signalled a start to proceedings.
The visitors could not get the ball off Liverpool, nor live with their use of it. Rapid, incisive and purposeful, the Merseysiders preyed on Hull at every juncture.
From James Milner catapulting into robust challenges at left-back, to Sadio Mane speeding with intent on the right, Mike Phelan’s side weren’t allowed a moment’s peace.
Liverpool smothered, strangled and suffocated Hull; their superiority simply breathtaking.
The Tigers lived a charmed life in the opening stanza of play, Joel Matip heading wide from a corner, before Philippe Coutinho’s scuffed shot was hacked off the line.
Their fortune soon evaporated, with Adam Lallana finishing off a delightful run and pass from the Brazilian to elicit a thunderous roar from the terraces.
On the half-hour, Hull’s already mountainous task was then rendered impossible: Ahmed Elmohamady was shown a straight red for deliberately handling Coutinho’s goal-bound shot and Milner doubled Liverpool’s advantage from the penalty spot.
Lallana, continuing his trend of being the side’s trigger, displayed fine feet to turn and escape the attention of his marker before playing Mane in. The Senegal international matched his teammate’s brilliance with a stellar spin and finish.
Liverpool were swarming and Hull were concussed; their only respite being Klopp’s men not ballooning the scoreline further before the break.
They were granted a moment of solitary comfort after the interval, with David Meyler reacting quickest to a corner, which the Reds failed to clear. It was the first shot at Loris Karius’ goal, the 23-year-old denied a clean sheet on his Premier League debut.
Klopp was livid that his side allowed one in, but a minute later, Coutinho tattooed himself on the game in trademark fashion - setting himself, before sending a scorcher into the back of the net from 25 yards.
Milner made it five after burying his second spot-kick of the afternoon. Daniel Sturridge, having just being introduced off the bench, was clipped in the area and the vice-captain made sure it counted.
Liverpool’s glorious start to the season had contained an asterisk against it due to the 2-0 disappointment at Burnley. Here, though, Klopp’s side made it quite clear that was simply an off-day rather than an official problem.
This - aggressive, relentless, rousing - is what they’re all about. This - dominant, dauntless, dangerous - is what they want to continue to be.
Liverpool are not only ones to watch, they are very much ones to fear.
Source: Goal.com
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