One win in six: why Liverpool are faltering

By Martin Graham

Liverpool’s current slide has been rooted of their makes an attempt to maneuver the ball out from protection. With Trent Alexander-Arnold now at Actual Madrid and Alisson Becker sidelined for weeks, the construction of the backline has shifted noticeably.

Giorgi Mamardashvili’s promotion to the beginning XI brings a change many overlook: the Georgian is left-footed, not like Alisson and former stand-in Caoimhin Kelleher. This distinction reshapes Liverpool’s early-phase distribution, as a left-footed keeper naturally directs passes in methods Alisson hardly ever would.

Below Alisson, play usually funnelled to Virgil van Dijk, the extra composed center-back in possession. Mamardashvili’s angles as an alternative push the ball towards the best channel, the place Ibrahima Konate works with Conor Bradley or Jeremie Frimpong. Opponents have learn this sample and incessantly apply stress that blocks Liverpool’s left facet, forcing their build-up into areas that are actually much less safe.

With out Alexander-Arnold, the best facet lacks a defender able to escaping stress with daring, two-footed passing. Liverpool’s full-backs additionally wrestle to control the tempo wanted to beat the press, notably when Milos Kerkez’s intentions change into predictable and Bradley’s brisk circulation hurries up phases that profit from persistence. These points lead to hurried choices, avoidable turnovers, and fewer stretches of managed possession.

Why Mohamed Salah’s menace has light

Mohamed Salah, as soon as the focus of Liverpool’s attacking rhythm, has discovered much less affect within the present setup. Final season, the best flank thrived by way of the triangle of Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexander-Arnold—whose adventurous positioning acted as a refined however important set off.

Alexander-Arnold usually moved into central attacking zones whereas defenders held the ball, forcing rival midfielders to trace him. That motion cleared the passing route from Konate to Salah, enabling the ahead to gather possession going through upfield with room to speed up, dribble, and mix.

It additionally allowed Liverpool’s pure central midfielders, resembling Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, to take a seat behind the ball in compact positions that helped guard in opposition to counters. The construction was secure, layered, and environment friendly.

This season, the full-backs obtain deeper and wider, limiting hyperlinks by way of central channels. The hall between Konate and Salah turns into crowded, so direct passes arrive at Salah’s toes with defenders at his again, decreasing his potential to show and assault. In the meantime, the elevated midfield rotation leaves fewer gamers stationed centrally when Liverpool loses possession, exposing the group to harmful transitions.

Liverpool’s defensive imbalance with out the ball

Below Arne Slot, Liverpool press in another way from the traditional Jurgen Klopp period. The group usually adopts a 4-2-4 form and follows Slot’s desire for sustaining a numerical benefit on the defensive position—generally known as the “plus one” precept.

When opponents place three attackers excessive, Liverpool retains 4 defenders in place, which implies sacrificing a participant greater up the pitch. The result’s a entrance line that presses in opposition to opponents who’ve an additional participant within the build-up, creating troublesome angles and demanding pinpoint urgent high quality.

Groups can exploit this by circulating the ball towards the facet Liverpool makes an attempt to entice, then shortly switching to the other flank. The dearth of stress equalization within the entrance line leaves gaps that sharper groups have used to progress upfield.

The Arsenal match highlighted the dilemma. Liverpool started with the additional defender and have been repeatedly outnumbered when Arsenal constructed by way of Riccardo Calafiori, who took up superior positions. Slot solved the issue briefly by switching to man-to-man marking after half-time—utilizing Szoboszlai to press Calafiori—however it left the backline uncovered in methods Slot prefers to keep away from. Subsequent matches have seen a return to the unique system, together with its problems.

Greater than techniques behind Liverpool’s decline

Liverpool’s points lengthen previous structural flaws. Their vulnerability from set items and problem judging lengthy balls have change into expensive in a league the place each carry rising significance.

Off the pitch, the emotional burden of dropping teammate Diogo Jota has unquestionably affected the squad and workers.

Regardless of heavy funding and high-profile arrivals, assembling a coherent, assured group requires steadiness—and Liverpool has but to search out it. The combination of tactical disruption, personnel modifications, and emotional pressure has culminated of their sharp drop in type.