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Can the Midfield Fringe Support the Reds’ Defence?

In the Sunday afternoon match, Manchester City was outplayed and ultimately defeated 2-0 at Anfield. Three backup midfielders were on the bench but did not appear during this crucial top-of-the-table clash. Currently, the three starting midfield positions are filled by the following four players: Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones. These midfielders are regularly utilized in the team’s lineup, and their performance can now be bolstered by the return of Harvey Elliott in the attacking phase. While the central midfield is thriving and being managed well, the defensive line is facing significant pressure during this busy Christmas period.

How to Overcome the Defensive Injury Crisis

New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed that he is currently working with only five senior defenders. Unfortunately, injuries to French international Ibrahim Konaté have exacerbated the situation, particularly with backup options Connor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas also unavailable. The defensive lineup that faced Guardiola’s team on Sunday included Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson. Given that club captain Alexander-Arnold has only recently returned from his own injury, Jarell Quansah was brought on as a substitute and quickly adapted to the right-back position. Standing at 6’3″, the academy graduate impressed during his brief time at full-back. Considering the need for creative solutions over the next four weeks, it seems likely that other players in this title-chasing squad will need to step out of their comfort zones to meet these challenges.

Can Arne Slot Repeat His Weekend Adaptation in Defense?

Under the new leadership, the essential qualities for success differ from those under the former manager, Jürgen Klopp. Key attributes now include game intelligence, excellent positional sense, and strong ball control. These qualities can certainly be seen in players like Wataru Endō, Tyler Morton, and Trey Nyoni.

In preparation for the next two games, strategic adjustments should be made either before kickoff or during the match to provide rest periods for players who are approaching their physical limits. For instance, it may be wise to limit the second-half participation of both full-backs during Wednesday night’s match against Newcastle, especially since this crucial away game falls just days before the Merseyside Derby. I hope the starting back line remains the same as it was in the match against City, to ensure the best chance of another clean sheet, however, fatigue must now be considered.

Given the high likelihood that the opposition will dominate possession and control certain areas of the pitch, I would be comfortable with either of the mentioned backup midfielders playing as left-back or right-back in the upcoming matches. The legendary club captain, VVD, provides a commanding and vocal presence at the base of Liverpool’s outfield lineup; therefore, to minimize the risk of further injuries, it would be beneficial to give more playing time to fringe players whenever possible.

Every week appears to bring an increasingly challenging schedule. With the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League standings, I have complete confidence in Arne Slot’s decision-making as she navigates his first Christmas period in English football. Newcastle United away may not represent the most glamourous of occasions on a cold Wednesday evening. However, the need to win all games must be the target, and key decisions will need to be undertaken and carried out to ensure the squad at hand can cope with this frenetic run of games.

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