Liverpool's team is 'how a team should be built' says Arteta
Liverpool players were "in an armchair" during Wednesday's Premier League visit to Arsenal, according to Reds legend Graeme Souness. Newly-crowned champions Liverpool took the lead at the Emirates thanks to a close-range effort from Sadio Mane. But the Gunners turned the game on its head before half time thanks to a couple of rare errors from the visitors.
The usually impeccable Virgil van Dijk gave the ball away for Arsenal's equaliser, passing straight to Alexandre Lacazette who rounded goalkeeper Alisson to score.
It was the turn of Alisson to make a mistake for the next goal, when the Brazilian's attempted chip went straight to Lacazette who crossed to Reiss Nelson for the winger to score his first ever Premier League goal with a calm finish.
Souness, who won five league titles as a player for Liverpool, says it is hard to explain how teams' performances dip after securing top spot.
And the Scot said a number of Jurgen Klopp's stars were off-colour in north London.
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"But they've won the league comfortably, they're waiting to get their hands on the trophy, but they're not at it.
"Fabinho two or three times tonight has passed the ball and given it away cheaply, which he doesn't do normally.
"A tell-tale sign, Mane's had a bit of wrestle up with [Rob] Holding a couple of times.
"Coming off, Mane's got a big smile on his face. In normal circumstances Mane goes to war with you, he's not smiling at you, he can't wait for the second half to start to get after you again.
"That tells you where they are, they're in an armchair. I'm not saying they're in an armchair from the first minute to the last minute but there's been periods in the game where they've drifted."
Sky presenter David Jones then said: "I'm reliably informed that it's the second error leading to a goal that Virgil van Dijk has made in 88 Premier League games."
And Souness could be heard in the background shouting: "Outrageous, sell him!"
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