Liverpool have been off to a flying start in the 2024-25 Premier League, winning their first three games. Their last game before the international break was a commanding 3-0 win over arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. Luiz Diaz scored a brace and Mohamed Salah scored one as Arne Slot completely outclassed his compatriot Erik ten Hag.
Looking at this superb start, we sat down with ex Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant to discuss Diaz and Salah’s form, Darwin Nunez’s future and Ryan Gravenberch being the Reds’ answer at the number six position.
Salah and Diaz – The firepower Liverpool have is great
Both Salah and Luiz Diaz have been off to a great start. The Egyptian has three goals and three assists in as many PL games and the Colombian has found the net three times and assisted one in the same time.
As a Liverpool fan, Pennant is very happy with their start and credits both of them for turning their form around.
“Being a Liverpool fan I think the amount of firepower we have is great. I can’t complain. It’s been a massive revelation. They look really sharp. Towards the end of last season Mo looked like things were on his mind. That’s when the talk about the Saudi moves started and is he was going to stay or not. He went on a six game blank of not scoring which is unlike Mo. He had no international football so he’s come back really fit.
“Luis Diaz was very frustrating last year with his end product. He got so many chances but didn’t score. People said let’s get rid of him and bring in a new left winger. He had chances against City and Arsenal which if he’d scored we could have won those games home and away. He’s scoring now and he looks happy and hungry. His English is improving. Long may it continue.
“They had a good pre-season, they look sharp, Slot has got the team together and they look happy together as a squad.”
I worry about Darwin Nunez’s future at Liverpool
While Pennant was impressed by Salah and Diaz, the attacker who he’s not sure about is Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan forward has not started for Slot so far as he has preferred Diogo Jota to lead the line.
Pennant understands why Jota is starting as he’s contributing on the offensive end but also states that it’s good to have an option like Nunez.
“It’s a bit difficult with Darwin. It’s a little vague relationship I’ve got with Darwin. There’s times where I think, “Oh my god, what a guy.
“And sometimes I think, what did he do on this pitch? It’s really hard. But when you’ve got someone like Diogo Jota who’s scoring goals, who’s having those chances and scoring, then you can’t change that. It’s good to have someone like Darwin, though.”
Pennant compares Nunez to Erling Håland but says that he doesn’t have the Norwegian’s finishing ability. He further states that if he doesn’t improve his finishing, he will be replaced.
“It’s good to have a player like that that you can maybe throw on and cause a bit of damage, some chaos into the game. He’s got all the attributes.. It’s similar to Haaland. But he just doesn’t have Haaland’s finishing capabilities yet. That’s the major difference.
“I think if he can sort that out, then there is a future for him. But if that finishing doesn’t get better and is not ruthless, then, unfortunately, there’ll be players in that team who can do that job better by scoring goals and will take his position.”
Gravenberch is the reason why Liverpool did not sign a No. 6
Before the season started, both fans and analysts were clamouring for Liverpool to sign a defensive midfielder. Ryan Gravenberch’s emergence in that role, however, has shut a lot of mouths.
Pennant himself has been pleasantly surprised by the Dutch midfielder as he expected Wataru Endo to be Liverpool’s starting No. 6. He then gives his analysis that Slot prefers Gravenberch there because he’s better at receiving the ball than Endo.
“Liverpool have been very, very smart by not just going out and bringing anybody in for big money which is a stop gap. They’ve already got cover in Endo for a job if need be and I’m very, very surprised by Ryan Gravenberch.
“When the season started and I saw he was going to be the number six I was questioning whether he is defensive minded enough, can he tackle and be robust but he’s shown that he can. He’s not scared of a challenge and the reason Slot prefers Gravenberch is that he can take the ball with his back to play better than Endo. He’s good at receiving the ball and taking the first touch away from the attacker and break the lines.”
The ex Portsmouth man then praises Slot for this positional change and argues that Jurgen Klopp could have done this last season too.
“What a gem of a move from Slot because Klopp had him but didn’t use him there and that could have fixed a lot of issues last season. We could have played Gravenberch as the six and had Mac Allister higher up the pitch.
“You have to give Arne Slot credit for taking the risk and playing Ryan there. Hence why Liverpool weren’t so active in desperately looking for a six. Slot knows what Ryan can do. If Liverpool really needed a six they would have gone and got one.”
Trent is Mr. Liverpool like Stevie G
Lastly, Pennant spoke about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future at Liverpool. He believes that the defender will not play for any other Premier League side and likens him to Steven Gerrard.
The only sides that Pennant thinks Alexander-Arnold can go to are the likes of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
“I can’t see Trent going anywhere else apart from Madrid. He won’t play for another Premier League club. He may want to play with his best mate in Bellingham. I’ve heard rumours that after the international break they will be having talks. Especially with Salah.
“I see Trent as a one club man. I can’t see Trent at City, Arsenal, Chelsea. Similarly to Stevie G, I think Trent is Mr Liverpool. They don’t want to leave their club and I can only see him at Barcelona or Madrid. I don’t see him going and Liverpool would be stutpid to not give him the contract and the wages he deserves. He’s a fantastic player. People talk about his defending but Liverpool have gone 3 games without conceding a goal so far so he must be doing something right.”
