ANFIELD — They don’t give departmental Ballon d’Ors. If they did, Liverpool’s midfield three-ball would walk it.
Two of them, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, provided the goals in the 2-0 win over Newcastle United that consolidated their grip on power. The third member of the triad, Ryan Gravenberch, or “Fabinho-plus” as he might be known, gives them permission to roam.
Newcastle have their own eminence in that part of the pitch. Indeed Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali did a commendable job in disrupting Liverpool’s rhythmic march early in the second half before Mac Allister put down the resistance. When Joelinton is among them, Newcastle have their own claim to midfield supremacy. But he wasn’t and as a result they don’t.
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Read MoreIt is the consistency of Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Gravenberch, not to mention their intensity and drive, that sets them apart. They deserve their own collective name. Perhaps “S-Mac-G” would do, or “The Dynostars” to reflect the dynamism that makes Liverpool so compelling.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was pleased with the effort of his team. This was, he noted, not the capitulation witnessed in the 4-0 defeat at Manchester City. He praised the application of his players, and the mentality, bemoaning only the lack of composure in front of goal.
He was right in some respects. But in all contests, the performance of one team is conditioned by the other. Newcastle’s defensive shape betrayed their deference to Liverpool.
Newcastle were more aggressive in the early part of the second half but by then were already one down and after the second goal went in just past the hour, Liverpool powered up once more to reassert their dominance.
Each element offers something different. Szoboszlai’s ability to break into the final third, to go past opponents as well as find the pass provides a connective thread linking the front three. He also adds goals as well as assists, seven and counting this season.
Mac Allister reads the game superbly, popping up in all the right places to take the ball from his defenders and turn defence rapidly into attack with a wide range of passing. Strong as a bull with a low centre of gravity, he is also difficult to shift in possession.
Gravenberch is a natural born doorman. His long limbs have a telescopic quality that permits none to pass. He eats up the ground with that great, long stride and shifts the ball on without fuss. Collectively they emanate authority and style, anticipating the movements of each other. And everything is done at pace.
Of course, without the quality of those in front and behind, their work would not carry the same force. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are a formidable pairing in defence and up front Luis Diaz and a fit Diogo Jota complement the incomparable Mo Salah with their tenacity and speed.
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Read MoreSalah appears destined for football’s ultimate individual accolade at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, which recognises in October the player of the season. He was, in moments, at his menacing best against Newcastle without scoring.
This at least allowed the spotlight to fall on the power unit behind him in which so much of Liverpool’s attacking capacity is stored. And should he receive his due in the French capital, he will be the first to raise a toast to S-Mac-G.
As did Arne Slot after the Newcastle victory took them 13 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with 10 games remaining.
“I think they’ve improved,” he said. “They have put so much work in and the team is playing so well together.
“If you wear the Liverpool shirt as a midfielder, you should score goals, maybe except for the No 6.
“But a No 10 or a No 8 should provide goals as well if needed. Not always it has been needed and sometimes they provide the assist, but today we depended on goals from them as well. They showed up.”
Slot will now make the most of the defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup fourth round that felt like calamity three weeks ago but is now a reason to celebrate. Or to rest, which amounts to the same thing ahead of the next instalment of this remarkable season, a Champions League barnburner in Paris. Allez!
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