Three tactical changes Arne Slot must make to instantly transform Liverpool
Arne Slot has made several odd tactical decisions this season, and with Liverpool’s luck running out recently, something needs to change.
Chelsea could break an eight-year Liverpool record this weekend after the Reds lost back-to-back games in all competitions for the first time since March, as worries over their form are highlighted.
With zero goals or assists in his opening nine Liverpool games, Arne Slot is worried about Florian Wirtz, but there are deeper tactical problems to blame for the Reds’ poor form this season.
Jamie Carragher has also highlighted Wirtz’s struggles, but it’s not the biggest problem right now despite the lack of goal contributions since his £116million move to Anfield.
Football Insider examines three tactical changes Slot must make to rectify Liverpool’s recent slump.
Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as a midfield three
Liverpool’s midfield has been a mess this season. It’s clear that midfield roles are not clearly defined this season, and it’s resulting in high possession, but slow and indirect buildup play.
Against Crystal Palace, Liverpool had 72% of possession and completed a total of 688 passes. While the dominance is commendable, the approach play was aimless and, admittedly, well stifled by a Palace team in great form.
Yet, Alexis Mac Allister was often out on the left defensive flank next to Virgil van Dijk while Milos Kerkez was inverted in a very narrow position. The Hungarian was also often the most advanced Liverpool player, but not utilised.
This meant that when Palace attacked in transition, both Mac Allister and Kerkez were not in ideal positions to cover the ground necessary to get back into position.
Ryan Gravenberch was at his best last season when he was dropping in between the centre-backs to collect the ball.
This did two things.
Firstly, it meant that Liverpool had a line-breaking midfielder on the ball as early as possible, while, secondly, when possession broke down, Gravenberch was well-placed to intervene and stop attacks in their tracks.
Finally, Dominik Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s best midfielder and belongs in the middle of the park. Experimenting with him at fullback needs to end.
Stop overcomplicating things at fullback
Arne Slot spent around £70million on fullbacks and needs to trust them. Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are great options at right back, but need to be trusted to fulfil this role instead of shoehorning Szoboszlai into a Trent Alexander-Arnold-esque role.
At left-back, Kerkez has had a very odd start to life at Liverpool, but it comes down to the bizarre tactical demands he’s being asked to meet. At Bournemouth, the Hungarian was one of the most thrilling, attacking fullbacks in the league. Whereas, at Anfield, his role his changed from game to game with little opportunity for consistency.
Since his move to Anfield, he’s often taken up positions in midfield or in a back three along with van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Slot’s tactics this season have been very confusing to figure out, and it explains why the players are just as confused as to how it’s all supposed to tie together.
Give Mohamed Salah more freedom in possession
After the ridiculous, record-breaking season Mohamed Salah enjoyed in 2024-25, he has been used as a chalk-on-the-boots winger this season when it’s clear that, with his pace declining, the Egyptian needs to be closer to goal and allowed to roam.
Salah is one of the most intelligent players in the Premier League and needs the freedom to float into the positions that he identifies to be the most promising. With the likes of Szoboszlai, Konate and Frimpong blessed with unbelievable speed, there is more than enough cover on the right flank to give Salah this type of license to roam.
Three goals and three assists in six games in all competitions is hardly a bad return. Yet, Salah does not look like himself this season, and something needs to change to reinvigorate the 33-year-old.