Liverpool’s start to the season has been far from ideal. The reigning Premier League champions have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions and slipped down the league table to seventh, trailing leaders Arsenal by seven points.
Another 3-0 midweek humbling by Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup once again exposed the Anfield side’s defensive frailties, with Arne Slot’s decision to heavily rotate the squad and hand opportunities to youngsters backfiring.
Following their £415m summer spree, Liverpool have struggled to gel as a cohesive unit. While the new arrivals’ form has been a point of concern, so too have the Reds’ performances at the back, where Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have not been at their best.
The centre-back pairing have conceded 14 goals in nine league games this term, 11 more than their main title rivals Arsenal, and these defensive frailties are raising serious questions about Arne Slot’s tactical approach, particularly whether his current system provides enough stability at the back.
Slot Could Learn from Amorim’s Blueprint
Ruben Amorim’s approach at Manchester United could provide a handy blueprint for Slot to fix his underperforming Liverpool squad.
The Portuguese manager has consistently deployed a 3-4-3 system since arriving at Old Trafford in November last year, and it is now starting to show results, with United winning three Premier League games in a row, including a 2-1 victory over their arch-rivals at Anfield last month.
The Red Devils have been far more defensively stable under the Portuguese manager lately and have also seen summer signings flourish, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko integrating smoothly into the squad.
Liverpool’s summer arrivals, however, have been a stark contrast, with Florian Wirtz yet to register a goal contribution in his nine Premier League appearances and Alexander Isak, the record transfer in British football, scoring just once for the Reds to date.
Adapting to a new formation mid-season is never straightforward, and Amorim experienced this first-hand last term after overseeing United’s worst-ever Premier League finish.
However, tactical innovation could be key for Slot to overturn Liverpool’s dismal start to the season and safeguard their ambitions of retaining the Premier League title.
Improved defensive stability would inject confidence into the Liverpool side and create a platform for their attacking talent to flourish, with both Wirtz and Isak needing a boost after a difficult start to life on Merseyside.
