Liverpool’s Struggles: Pressing, Second Balls, and Midfield Woes

Liverpool’s poor form in the Premier League this season has left many fans scratching their heads. After a spectacular debut season under Arne Slot, which saw the team lift the Premier League title, this season has been a sharp contrast. With only two wins in their last six matches, the Reds now find themselves in 8th place, a worrying eight points behind leaders Arsenal. Liverpool’s lack of pressing and inability to win second balls have been key issues, and as Michael Reid points out, these problems are symptomatic of a broader tactical struggle.

Pressing Problem: Giving Opponents Time

One of the most noticeable differences this season has been Liverpool’s lack of pressing intensity. “This season, we’re not pressing and teams have time on the ball,” says Reid. In the past, Klopp’s pressing game was a hallmark of Liverpool’s style. However, under Slot, that aggressive pressing has diminished, allowing opponents the luxury of time to dictate play. This has contributed to an increase in long balls from opposition teams, who no longer feel the constant pressure from Liverpool’s high press.

As Reid notes, this lack of pressing allows teams to play those long balls more effectively. “That means they can pick out these long balls more,” he says, highlighting how Liverpool’s failure to disrupt opponents in the middle of the pitch has left them vulnerable to direct attacking play. The knock-on effect of this is that Liverpool’s defence often finds themselves caught between dealing with aerial duels and the absence of midfield cover.

Midfield Conundrum: A Gap in the Middle

This brings us to the midfield issue. Reid points out that there’s been a “weird change” in Liverpool’s approach this season, particularly with the positioning of key players like Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. “Mac Allister and Gravenberch have been asked to go further forward this season, but that just means the midfield isn’t there,” he explains. The result is that the midfield no longer functions as effectively as it did under Klopp. With both Mac Allister and Gravenberch pushed forward, there is less protection in the middle of the park, leaving Liverpool exposed to counter-attacks.

Reid elaborates that this shift has contributed to the issue of long balls bypassing the midfield entirely, making it difficult for Liverpool to regain possession. “So many of these long balls bypass the midfield and go from defence to attack with one ball,” he states. This one-dimensional approach has made it easier for teams to break through and put pressure on Liverpool’s backline, knowing that the midfield is often too stretched or absent to recover the ball.

Aerial Duels: Strength in Defence but No Midfield Support

Despite these pressing and midfield issues, Liverpool’s centre-backs, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, continue to impress in aerial duels. “Virgil van Dijk and Ibou Konaté’s aerial numbers are still great and they’re still winning most of their headers,” says Reid. However, while these two remain dominant in the air, the problem lies in what happens after those headers. With the midfield too far upfield or non-existent, there is no one to collect the second balls, leaving Liverpool in a vulnerable position.

Slot’s Dilemma: Tactical Choices Ahead

Arne Slot now faces a difficult decision. Does he opt to increase the intensity of the press, forcing teams into mistakes higher up the pitch? Or does he drop his midfield two deeper to protect against those long balls and win more second balls? “At the moment, we’re caught in the middle of both. We’re not pressing and we’re not compact either,” Reid summarises. Slot must decide whether to fully commit to one tactical approach or continue with a half-hearted strategy that leaves Liverpool exposed at both ends of the pitch.

Liverpool’s struggles this season are not a result of a lack of quality, but rather a tactical imbalance that needs urgent attention. Slot’s ability to make the right changes could determine whether the Reds can climb back up the table and challenge for top honours once again.