Here’s something you won’t see again this season: A Premier League team conceding a goal because two of their players are looking in the opposite direction of the ball and not playing at all. That’s how Arsenal conceded to Roberto Firmino and Liverpool to start their game on Saturday.
Watch as Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wander over to the Arsenal sideline, presumably to get tactical instructions. Whatever coaches on the sideline are trying to tell them doesn’t register quickly, because they keep walking over to the sideline, ignoring the play going on behind them. By the time they realize what’s going on, it’s too late. Liverpool score against what is effectively a nine-man Gunners team.
As Robbie Earle noted during NBCSN’s halftime show, Ramsey would have been in a place to disrupt Firmino’s run had he been in position and paying attention. Liverpool went on to score again, and led 2-0 at the break. At halftime, Ramsey was substituted off for Francis Coquelin.