By Martin Graham
Liverpool’s The recent slide has been rooted in his attempts to get the ball out of defense. With Trent Alexander-Arnold now at Real Madrid and Alison Becker on the sidelines for weeks, the structure of the back line has changed markedly.
by Giorgi Mamardashvili The promotion to the starting eleven brings a change that many overlook: the Georgian is left-handed, unlike Alisson and the former substitute. Kevin Kelleher. This difference reshapes Liverpool’s early phase distribution, as a left-handed goalkeeper naturally directs passes in a way that Alisson rarely would.
Under Alisson, the game usually goes to Virgil van Dijkthe most composed central in possession. Mamardashvili angles the ball into the right channel, where Ibrahima Konate work with Conor Bradley or Jeremy Frimpong. Opponents have read this pattern and often apply pressure that blocks Liverpool’s left side, forcing their build-up into areas that are now less secure.
Without Alexander-Arnold, the right-back lacks a defender capable of escaping pressure with a bold, two-footed pass. Liverpool’s full-backs also struggle to manipulate the pace needed to beat the press, especially when Milos Kerkez’s intentions become predictable and Bradley’s quick circulation quickens phases that benefit from patience. These problems lead to hasty decisions, avoidable business changes and fewer stretches of controlled possession.
Why Mohamed Salah’s threat has faded
Mohamed Salahonce the focal point of Liverpool’s attacking pace, he has found less influence in the current set-up. Last season, the right flank thrived through Salah’s triangle, Dominik Szoboszlaiand Alexander-Arnold, whose adventurous positioning acted as a subtle but vital trigger.
Alexander-Arnold often moved into central attacking areas while defenders held the ball, forcing opposing midfielders to follow him. This move cleared the passing route from Konate to Salah, allowing the striker to collect possession upfield with space to accelerate, dribble and combine.
It also allowed Liverpool’s natural central midfielders, such as Ryan Gravenberch i Alexis McAllisterto sit behind the ball in compact positions that helped protect against counters. The structure was stable, layered and efficient.
This season, the full-backs are given deeper and wider links, limiting links through the central channels. The corridor between Konate and Salah gets crowded, so direct passes arrive at Salah’s feet with defenders at his back, reducing his ability to turn and attack. Meanwhile, increased midfield rotation leaves fewer players positioned centrally when Liverpool lose possession, exposing the team to dangerous transitions.
Liverpool’s defensive imbalance without the ball
Under Arne Slot, Liverpool press differently to Jurgen Klopp’s classic era. The team often adopts a 4-2-4 formation and follows Slot’s preference to maintain a numerical advantage on the defensive line, known as the “plus one” principle.
When opponents deploy three tall forwards, Liverpool keep four defenders in place, which means sacrificing a player further up the pitch. The result is a front line that presses against opponents who have an extra player in the formation, creating difficult angles and demanding a precise pressing quality.
Teams can take advantage of this by circulating the ball to the side Liverpool are trying to catch and then switching quickly to the opposite flank. The lack of equal pressure in the front line leaves gaps that sharper teams have used to advance up the field.
The Arsenal game highlighted the dilemma. Liverpool started with the extra defender and were repeatedly outnumbered as Arsenal finished Riccardo Calafioriwho occupied advanced positions. Slot temporarily solved the problem by switching to man-to-man marking after halftime, using Szoboszlai to pressure Calafiori, but it left the backline exposed in ways Slot prefers to avoid. Later games have seen a return to the original system, along with its complications.
More than tactics behind Liverpool’s decline
Liverpool’s problems extend beyond structural flaws. His vulnerability to set pieces and difficulty judging long balls have become costly in a league where both are increasingly important.
Off the pitch, the emotional toll of losing teammate Diogo Jota has certainly affected the squad and staff.
Despite big investments and high-profile arrivals, putting together a consistent and confident squad requires balance, and Liverpool have yet to find it. The mix of tactical disruption, personnel changes and emotional strain has culminated in their sharp drop in form.
