Liverpool are spiralling. What was initially a blip has morphed right into a full blown disaster.
Arne Slot’s aspect have now misplaced as many Premier League video games this season as they did within the entirety of their title-winning marketing campaign (4). So, what has prompted such a dramatic drop-off?
Lengthy-ball disaster
Slot has already admitted Liverpool can not address a long-ball technique, so you may guess what tactic Keith Andrews employed throughout Saturday’s 3-2 success. Brentford peppered their guests with 64 direct passes. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate spent extra time working in direction of their very own purpose than doing a lot else.
Maybe it was unwise for Slot to spell out Liverpool’s frailty so publicly. “I’ve looked at how many long balls we already had to defend – 178 in seven games and then United came and we had to defend 59,” he stated in his press convention, blaming shortcomings on the “playing styles we face”.
It served as the proper blueprint. Brentford performed their highest share of lengthy passes all season, scoring inside 5 minutes from an extended throw earlier than Kevin Schade was assisted by a 40-yard Mikkel Damsgaard move to go 2-0 up. Liverpool had been break up huge open and it was a lengthy approach again from there.
Prone to quick breaks
Slot is likely to be eager to deflect blame however there may be an apparent lack of coherence and steadiness to his present Liverpool construction. Underneath Jurgen Klopp, the Reds had been a urgent machine and retained a lot of that depth final yr, however performances this time period have been rather more passive.
The stress to intercept due to this fact falls on the midfield trio, who’re faltering in transition. Liverpool have conceded the league’s fourth highest xG worth (1.62) to quick breaks this season. Opposition groups have exploited full-backs who take an excessive amount of threat and are consistently caught out of place. Bournemouth used this actual play on opening weekend and but no classes have been learnt.
Brentford generated 17 efforts at purpose on Saturday – essentially the most Liverpool have confronted all season – whereas additionally making a weekend-high seven massive probabilities. 4 of these had been missed.
Physicality points
With out injured Ryan Gravenberch, and generally nonetheless with him, Liverpool look light-weight. They solely received eight of 19 first-half aerial duels on the Gtech.
Slot packed the midfield with technicians, hoping to dominate possession, which they did, however didn’t account for events the place they misplaced the ball off form. Neither Florian Wirtz nor Curtis Jones are the combative sort, which left Dominik Szoboszlai to fend for himself.
The Hungarian received extra duels (11) than any participant on the pitch however was overlaying the work of three midfielders off the ball. He was over-exposed. “Too many duels were lost, too many second balls weren’t won,” Slot conceded. Wirtz has the second lowest success charge in duels (33 per cent) of any Liverpool participant.
Integration issues
Liverpool spent massive of a number of the world’s greatest attacking expertise this summer time. The speculation behind such an aggressive drive was sound partially.
Each Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez left the membership and naturally there existed an enormous hole the place Diogo Jota’s purpose contributions as soon as had been – his tragic passing little doubt taking an emotional toll too. The consequences of which can’t be measured. However the argument for such a dramatic overhaul of a staff of reigning champions was much less reasoned.
In its present configuration the squad is totally unbalanced. There’s barely defensive cowl if both Van Dijk or Konate – who appears ripe for a relaxation – want changing, and the full-back division is insufficiently stocked too.
Alexander Isak and Wirtz seem misplaced. Was the latter not purchased particularly for the duty of unlocking groups whose defensive construction is a low block? One thing about Slot’s current admission doesn’t tally right here. “We haven’t found that answer yet,” he confessed. That’s absolutely the supervisor’s job to repair.
Gradual begins
Liverpool have conceded first of their final six matches in all competitions. Of their final 4 league outings they’ve shipped at the least two a sport. And the timing of these targets has not helped both, every arriving no later than the sixteenth minute. Brentford scored within the fifth.
Video games have rapidly grow to be a rescue mission and this fragile aspect, with its largest names underperforming, do not appear to have the ability to stand up to the stress. Liverpool even have a worse purpose distinction than newly promoted Sunderland. In truth, since clinching the title final season, they’ve received as many Premier League factors as Sunderland – taking part in 4 video games extra.
Title defence in tatters?
On the present charge of journey, Opta predicts Liverpool will end third with Arsenal topped champions. In fact, that isn’t a precise science but it surely’s laborious to argue towards that final result on current proof. If something third appears beneficiant, given no top-flight aspect is on an extended shedding run.
Slot has work to do. Precedence primary has received to be to cease conceding targets at a charge of knots. Liverpool’s final clear sheet was six weeks in the past towards Burnley. And they have an issue with set-pieces too. Solely Nottingham Forest and West Ham (10 every) have conceded extra instances from a set-play this season than Liverpool (seven).
Earlier than trying to keep away from shedding 5 consecutive league matches for the primary time since 1953 on Saturday towards Aston Villa, the Reds host Crystal Palace within the Carabao Cup, dwell on Sky Sports activities. Selhurst Park is by the way the place this shedding streak started.
No time for soul looking, then, Slot wants options, or this painful transition interval is about to final lengthy into winter.
Liverpool’s subsequent 5 fixtures
Wednesday twenty ninth October 7:00pm
Kick off 7:45pm
Oct 29: Crystal Palace (H), Carabao Cup – kick-off 7.45pm, dwell on Sky Sports activities
Nov 1: Aston Villa (H), Premier League – kick-off 8pm
Nov 4: Actual Madrid (H), Champions League – kick-off 8pm
Nov 9: Man Metropolis (A), Premier League – kick-off 4.30pm, dwell on Sky Sports activities
Nov 22: Nottingham Forest (H), Premier League, kick-off 3pm
