Liverpool Faces Challenges Following Key Departures
After a successful Premier League campaign last season, Liverpool has bolstered their squad with some of the most notable talents in Europe.
Under the management of Arne Slot, the Reds have invested approximately £416.2 million in summer signings, the highest expenditure by any club in a single transfer window. New arrivals such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike have joined the ranks at Anfield.
However, despite currently holding third place in the league, Liverpool has suffered three consecutive defeats across all competitions. They will host Manchester United on Sunday amidst growing concerns regarding their performance.
While new signings typically require time to integrate, the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid may have had a more significant impact on Liverpool's overall dynamics than initially anticipated.
Despite facing criticism for his defensive capabilities at times, the 27-year-old contributed 18 goals and 64 assists during his tenure at the club. His absence is now being felt in more subtle ways.
This article examines the aspects Liverpool is missing this season in the wake of Alexander-Arnold's exit.
Reds Struggling Against High Defensive Blocks
The Premier League features some of the best defensive setups globally, whether through aggressive high-pressing or organized, compact blocks.
To bypass a high press, teams can either play through the pressure or go over it with long passes. Liverpool has struggled to advance the ball effectively against well-executed defensive setups this season, a challenge partly attributed to the absence of Alexander-Arnold.
For instance, during a match against Tottenham last season, Spurs employed a high press to regain possession early. Alexander-Arnold's positioning allowed him to use his weaker left foot to deliver a precise pass to the unmarked Alexis Mac Allister, showcasing his ability to navigate tight situations.
Last season, Liverpool's build-up play thrived on finding centrally positioned midfielders who could maneuver around late-arriving pressure. In that example, Ryan Gravenberch had drifted to the right flank, pulling his marker away, while Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai formed a staggered formation to facilitate quick passing.
Bradley Less Proficient with Weaker Foot
In the recent loss to Chelsea, Slot opted for Conor Bradley at right-back, who encountered a situation similar to Alexander-Arnold's against Spurs. Pressed by Alejandro Garnacho, Bradley faced inward, limiting access to the wide areas.
Bradley, like his right-back counterpart Jeremie Frimpong, is less adept with his weaker foot, which hindered his ability to build play centrally. Instead of progressing the ball into midfield, he reverted to Ibrahima Konate, restarting the build-up and facing the same challenges.
Wirtz Dropping Deeper than at Leverkusen
The need for effective short build-up play is evident, and Liverpool has had to adjust by deploying Wirtz deeper in the formation. While Wirtz excels in the final third, his technical prowess allows him to drop back to receive the ball and assist in advancing play.
At Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso, Wirtz often positioned himself on the left flank, waiting for teammates to bring the ball forward. This season, however, his positioning has shifted significantly.
Although this adjustment addresses Liverpool's immediate weaknesses, it does not fully leverage Wirtz's attacking potential.
Long Build-Up and Switches of Play
Beyond short build-up play, teams rely on long passes and switches to disrupt opposing defensive structures. Last season, Liverpool executed an average of 3.4 switches per 90 minutes, but this figure has dropped to 1.3 this season. This decline can be partly attributed to Alexander-Arnold's departure, as he consistently delivered accurate crossfield passes with both feet.
Effective switches force a defending team to adjust their positioning, creating spaces to exploit. While Virgil van Dijk has demonstrated his ability to deliver long diagonal passes, other defenders in the current squad have not utilized this tactic as frequently.
Last season, Alexander-Arnold averaged 11.3 long passes per 90 minutes with a 42.1% accuracy rate. In contrast, Bradley and Frimpong have recorded only 3.7 and 1.1 long passes per 90 minutes, with accuracy rates of 16.1% and 0%, respectively.
Salah Playing with Back to Goal
The tactics available to a coach depend heavily on the players at their disposal. Without Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's ability to quickly transition to their speedy attackers in open space has diminished.
Both Isak and Salah thrive when attacking with speed and facing defenders. The current slower build-up play results in more frequent encounters with compact defenses, allowing opponents ample time to regroup.
This has led to Salah often playing with his back to goal, both centrally and on the flanks. While Salah is a talented player, he struggles under close defensive pressure, limiting his options and often resulting in backward passes.
How Can United Take Advantage?
As Slot's team prepares to face Ruben Amorim's Manchester United, the latter must capitalize on Liverpool's recent vulnerabilities to secure a positive outcome.
Amorim has occasionally employed a 5-4-1 defensive shape, deviating from his usual 5-2-3 formation. If utilized, this strategy could present further challenges for Liverpool.
By defending deeper and effectively blocking the central areas, United can increase the likelihood of Liverpool possessing the ball in congested areas.