Arneslot can’t catch a break. Three days after their best performance of the season at Marseille in the Champions League, Liverpool lost to Bournemouth on vitality. Contradictions continue at an unfathomable rate.
Slott’s side have not won a league game this year, scoring just five goals in five games, have been overtaken by Manchester United and Chelsea in the standings and face an uphill battle to remain in the race for Champions League qualification.
Brentford and Fulham have both won as many games as Liverpool overall (10). Slott’s excuses for records like this – the most recent being a gale at Bournemouth – will only serve to further eradicate the credibility built up during last season’s title-winning campaign. The Dutchman is now in the middle of a barrage.
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Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool manager Arn Slott could qualify or go bankrupt if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
After hosting Qarabag at Anfield on Wednesday, it will be Liverpool’s worst start to the calendar year since 1954, when they were relegated unless they can beat Newcastle at the weekend.
Here, we break down the most prominent issues as the defending champion struggles to keep pace with the top five.
low block failure
“What we’re looking at is a team that’s not fit for the Premier League,” Jamie Carragher said on Monday Night Football, referring to Liverpool’s inability to break down teams that lock in defense, compress space and bank.
Bournemouth, seemingly undeterred by the south coast winds, produced the equivalent of 2.35 xG at the weekend, while Liverpool only managed 0.93, their biggest net deficit in any competition since beating PSG in France in March. Bournemouth are also not a team that defends from low positions.
The team that once had the league’s best offense has turned into the easiest team to nullify. In the slot’s version of control, Liverpool are playing at a pedestrian pace, much easier to contain and much easier to predict. Slowing down the attacking tempo severely hampered the creation of big chances and the quality of shots (0.9), which was below the league average (0.10).
Deploying from deep in the build-up phase only works if there is movement up front. How to break the opponent team’s shape. However, Liverpool have far fewer disruptor types to make this style work. Players like Luis Diaz and the late Diogo Jota ran defensively in a way that created openings for other players to exploit. It separated the team.
This version is much more systematic and does not have the same magnetic energy. Liverpool have gone from being the team that produced the most accurate transitions of play all last season to now the team that produced the least. Mohamed Salah’s sending off is also an unfortunate by-product of that fact, ultimately resulting in fewer goals scored in all rounds.
Lack of counter threat
And if the pace is slow, the cut-through will inevitably be less effective. Liverpool used to have a myriad of ways to turn things around in the blink of an eye. But importantly, what tied this strategy together was that everything was done with urgency.
Why is the team that ranks first in chances created (278) ranked ninth in shots on target (99)? Liverpool arrive in the final third lacking the intensity and numbers needed to convert chances into meaningful ones.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz are the only two players in the league to complete over 400 final third passes, but that still leaves them 21 fewer goals than at this stage last season. In terms of creativity, Liverpool are in trouble.
Fasting was once a pillar of identity. Last season, they scored a league-high 14 points this way. This year, the number has dropped to just three.
And where has the media gone? Based on the number of possessions won in the attacking third (85), Liverpool’s ability or desire to press is less coordinated than Tottenham, Everton, Leeds and seven other teams.
The seriousness of set pieces
Liverpool’s set-piece record at both ends of the pitch is ridiculous. No team has conceded more goals from throw-ins (5 times). Overall, only Bournemouth (17) have conceded more goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) than Liverpool’s 14.
“This team is not ready for Premier League football,” Carragher reiterated when discussing the topic with MNF. The numbers have been noticeable throughout the season and led to Liverpool sacking their set-piece coach earlier this month.
Indeed, each of Bournemouth’s three goals at the weekend exposed specific and systemic weaknesses.
Goal 1: Weak against simple top-over balls
Goal 2: Expose the weak left side
Goal 3: Be sensitive to basic long throws.
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Evanilson takes advantage of Liverpool’s defensive laxity to put Bournemouth ahead at Vitality Stadium
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Alex Jimenez doubles Bournemouth and Liverpool’s lead with first Premier League goal
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Amin Adil snatched Bournemouth’s most dramatic win against Liverpool
Andoni Iraola had finished his homework. Amin Adli’s stoppage-time winner was the third time this season that Liverpool have lost a game after 90 minutes. Never before has something like this happened in a single campaign.
Anfield’s troubles
The game at Anfield used to be Liverpool’s bunker. A unique history, an intimidating atmosphere, and the thrill of soccer all played a role at the same time. Of course, many of them still exist, but they seem to be buried under a cloud of uncertainty.
Since beating Bournemouth 4-2 on the opening weekend, Liverpool have not scored more than two goals in their last 10 home games.
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Gary Neville believes Liverpool are softening both in attack and defense and has warned they will lose the credibility they earned last season if results do not improve.
The team have averaged just 1.45 goals at Anfield this season, their lowest since 2011/12 (1.26 goals), but are 10th in the home table for points per game.
With five games to be played at Anfield between now and the end of February, including matches against Newcastle and Manchester City, the situation could actually get worse before it gets better.
But there’s still talent and hope
Despite the above stigma, Liverpool still have the talent needed to finish in the top four or five. To achieve that, slots need to arrange that talent in a more attractive way.
We also need to improve our tactics to win games. Liverpool have lost four times this season after conceding a second-half equalizer. The Premier League average is 0.9.
Last summer, £450m worth of talent arrived, making them the highest paid team of any top-flight team. Usually, but not always, it equates to success. As for slots, it’s just mediocre.
The time has come to gather wisdom. Otherwise, the Dutchman risks losing more than just his next soccer match.
Follow our Liverpool vs Newcastle coverage on our dedicated live blog this Saturday from 6.30pm. Kickoff at 8pm. Complete highlights will be available immediately after the game.
