Liverpool (AFP)

Liverpool triumphed over his football "little brother" Salzburg (4-3) on Wednesday for the second day of the Champions League, but his defensive mistakes that left the Austrians up 3 goals behind can be a cause for concern.

Liverpool hoped to send the message that the temptation of the title was back with this match. It's totally missed.

Certainly, the Reds have ensured the essential with this success that allows them to join their opponent of the day to the number of points, with a difference of goals much less good.

They are also back in the wake of Naples who had beaten (2-0) a fortnight ago but was held in check to Genk, future double opponent of Liverpool.

- Air pocket -

To become again the dominant team on the continental stage that it was last year, Jürgen Klopp will still find the reasons for the air hole that saw Liverpool 3-0, ten minutes from halftime at 3-3 on the hour of play. He will have to find a remedy.

Perhaps his players fell asleep, rocked by their initial success, their overwhelming ball possession (more than 70%) and their purring game with its 85% of successful passes.

The ease with which Hwang Hee-chan eliminated Virgil van Dijk, deemed impassable, on 3-1 (39th), the defensive withdrawal failing on the beautiful volley of 3-2 by Takumi Minamino (56th) and the passivity of the rearguard that allowed the inevitable Erling Braut Haaland to equalize four minutes later are black spots to be erased absolutely.

- Doubled of Salah -

However, we should not forget the positive points, such as these magnificent goals of the first period, thanks to an offensive trio who found his superb, like the doubled Mohamed Salah and two assists Roberto Firmino .

The Brazilian is the only player to score at least ten goals (14) and assists (10) in the Champions League over the past three seasons.

On his first offering, he had ideally served Sadio Mané after a one-two to open the scoring against his former club (1-0, 9th), before deflecting the ball from the head for the Egyptian on the goal of wins (4-3, 69th).

He deserved almost a third assist for his header at the first post pushed back by the goalkeeper in Salah's feet for 3-0 (36th).

When the goal of the 2-0, he would have his place in the football museum in the range of "typically Liverpool": an attack impulsed vigorously by the left-back Andrew Robertson who continued his action to within six meters of opponents to receive the center of his right counterpart, Trent Alexander-Arnold (25th).

Although he will undoubtedly stick to his usual "positive attitude", Jürgen Klopp will not be fooled and knows that his team can and must do better if it wants to keep his crown in Istanbul on May 30.

© 2019 AFP