Phil Thompson spotted a change in Liverpool after 30 minutes v Lyon on Sunday. The Reds lost the game 3-1 in Dubai.
Liverpool slumped to a 3-1 defeat in Dubai as Lyon largely controlled the second half against them. Fabio Carvalho gave the Reds a lead inside 45 seconds but a defensive mishap right before halftime gave the French side a way back.
Liverpool didn’t create all that much after half-time, it should be said. Lyon, though, found two goals to wrap things up and grab three points. They then found another point by winning the post-match penalty shootout – a hallmark of this tournament in Dubai.
The Reds started this one well, then, but couldn’t maintain their pace. That’s what Phil Thompson was sure to point out on LFCTV after the game – Liverpool ran out of steam.
“You could see the difference,” said Thompson. “Lyon have played a game already and you could see that in their play.
“Literally, I’m watching the game and we’ve gone ‘boff’ and hit a brick wall. Everybody was closing down, everybody was running – being told by the management to put everything into the early stages, we’re going to make changes.”
Liverpool v Lyon
Thompson pretty much sums things up here. This was the first Liverpool game for around a month and it showed. They couldn’t keep up their energy levels and certainly not after a host of second-half changes.
No one should really read into this one, then. There’s only one takeaway from it all and it’s that Liverpool are back. They have a game under their belts, will be fitter for it and we expect a sharper display against AC Milan next Friday.
Start counting down the days, though. December 22nd will see competitive club football return and we can’t wait. Today was just the start.
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