It hasn’t been the begin to the season we hoped for.
After profitable every of our first 5 Premier League video games, Liverpool have misplaced 5 of the final six, elevating questions on what’s actually occurring underneath Arne Slot.
Liverpool’s defensive construction underneath Arne Slot
Michael Reid on Substack highlighted six worrying tendencies, beginning with defensive fragility.
The Reds have conceded 36 objectives since Could, the second-most of any membership in Europe’s prime 5 leagues.
Conceding from counter-attacks, set-pieces, long-range efforts, and errors has change into a recurring theme.
Whereas Slot is aiming for a managed method to protect health, it’s clear that opponents aren’t being compelled lengthy by our press as they had been underneath Klopp.
Metric
2024/25
2025/26
Change
Excessive turnovers
10.5
6.8
↓3.7
Pressed sequences
15.8
10.9
↓4.9
PPDA
9.2
11
↑1.8
*PPDA (passes allowed per defensive motion)
Even the champions’ gradual build-up is costing us. Liverpool common extra possession than ever (60.7%) however fewer sequences finish in pictures or touches within the field than in earlier campaigns.
With our new midfield rebuild, younger gamers like Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch are adapting however the tempo hasn’t but matched what we achieved final season, as Robbie Fowler identified when criticising summer season recruitment.
Urgent knowledge reveals each issues and promise
Regardless of these points, Pat Nevin acknowledged that the league desk “doesn’t give the complete reality.”
The slender margins within the prime half recommend there’s nonetheless time to recalibrate, significantly with the worldwide break offering an opportunity to reset the press and defensive organisation.
Away type is alarming – we’ve misplaced 50% of away video games in 2025 – however house dominance stays intact with 17 wins in 23 video games.
The Manchester Metropolis loss, whereas harsh, wasn’t completely reflective of our probabilities created or xG, additional displaying that there’s extra to Liverpool’s story than factors alone.
Our champions are underneath strain, however the knowledge reveals a combination of regarding patterns and potential for correction. The subsequent six weeks are essential – Slot should discover options if we’re to defend our title efficiently.
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