Liverpool v Leeds United - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

Liverpool v Leeds United A Liverpool Perspective



A return to turgid football, despite facing a low block where the easiest way to beat it is via fast ball movement. Once again Slot hits on a formula that works and then throws it out of the window and reverts to this dire imitation of possession football. It is hard to understand his thinking, why the desire to constantly go back to this style of football that fails him time and time again. It is beyond my understanding how he can not see that the team are just not suited to it. At least last season he started with this slow, lumbering play and then changed to get results at half time. This season, he is more likely to change from a system that is working to something that does not work at all, like he did against Wolves.

That first half showed some signs of promise, carrying on in that vein in the second half could have been the start of something. Instead he made changes at half time that killed Liverpool as an attacking threat. Worse is that he never seems to see what he has done and kept the system from the second half for this match too. The result was a complete lack of any kind of threat other than the odd flash from a player taking the ball and running with it. Ekitike probably should have had a penalty, but it would have been undeserved in terms of overall play, as Liverpool's attacking threat was non-existent.

This cannot go on as this squad is far too good to be struggling so badly. It is hard to understand how Slot cannot see the problems, because they are all obvious to anyone watching. The play is too negative, too much sideways and backwards passing. It is too slow. There is a lack of movement. Players are taking too many touches before moving the ball on and so killing any momentum. There is a lack of intensity and aggression in the play, which is contributing massively to the failings in set pieces. And there is a clear lack of fitness, with players out on their feet, despite playing at walking pace, midway though the second half. It is a mess.



Leeds United


Leeds very much deserved at least a point, they were very good, defending with all their heart and ability to get a good result, and looked dangerous on the break. I was actually very impressed with them, they are a completely different prospect from Farke's Norwich City teams when he got them into the Premier League. There is more ambition, energy and belief about them. They are playing like a team that believes they are good enough to survive and it is difficult to disagree. There are goals in the team, they work for each other and they are solid defensively, a recipe for a good team. They do lack strength in depth, and their squad could easily become stretched and that cost them, but that looks to be the only thing that will cost them a second season in the Prem.

I have to say, well done to Farke, whether it was by accident or whatever, he has found a way of playing that fits the club. I was not a big fan of him as a head coach, but he has shown that it is possible to learn from mistakes and improve. That is rare, most are too arrogant to believe that what they have settled on as the right way to play could possibly be wrong and need to be changed. Though, the big test will be what he does next season. Will he stick with this new set up and run with it for the long term or will he revert to what he knows like so many do, ignoring the success of the change? That will be when we really know if he has truly learnt or it is just a bit of expediency to see him through a season.



Liverpool


Alisson - not as solid as he has been, and his kicking is still not back to its best, but still inspires confidence from his teammates, despite the odd mistake.


Frimpong - one of the few players to be able to get in behind Leeds and cause them issues. He just never got the ball early enough. Instead he usually received it after he had stopped his run and was unable to do much with it. Showed good pace when given the opportunity.


Konate - there is still no sign of him improving. An awful season and his performances match that every game.


van Dijk - struggled until Calvert-Lewin came on. He looked a lot more comfortable up against a proper number 9, who wanted to battle him physically.


Robertson - kept getting forward but offered little and then lacks the legs to get back when the ball is lost. Sadly it is time to move on from him.


Jones - played fairly well, though still can be guilty of too many touches.


Gravenberch - a long way off the level he was at last season. Neglects his defensive duties far too often, though I do realise that is under instruction, I would like to see him recognise for himself that he needs to drop deeper.


Bradley - his play is so often brainless, hopefully something that can be fixed as he gains experience. Right now, he is a very average right-back who gets injured far too often. I seen footage of Carragher referring to Kerkez as being like having Darwin Nunez at left-back, but I think he has that wrong, it is Bradley who is like Nunez. The lack of intelligence and brainless running anyway, Nunez works a lot harder at getting back to help the defence than Bradley does and that is something that I am finding annoying with him. In this match, Frimpong and Gravenberch were needed to cover in behind as he made no effort to get back. If he is going to get caught up field so much, then he needs to have an effect like Trent had, right now he is just a liability causing the team to get dragged out of shape for little return at all.


Wirtz - worked hard, despite carrying a hamstring niggle, but was unable to really make an impact with the ball and had a poor game. You have to wonder about the wisdom of starting him when he is carrying a niggle like that.


Szoboszlai - he is still working hard, but everything is so disjointed now that his effort is no longer bringing others with it. Now it is very much solo work. When he goes to press, it no longer triggers others to press too. That is a very big issue, it should be leading the rest to react. Really does need to learn how to tackle though, I cannot remember seeing him win one.


Ekitike - his honesty lost him a penalty, as he stayed on his feet. Terrible piece of refereeing. He looked the one player capable of getting a goal.


Kerkez - replaced Robertson in the 66th minute. Ridiculous decision to bring him on along with Gakpo, as it just means all his good play is wasted when Gakpo ignores him and refuses to pass to him.


Gakpo - came on for Wirtz in the 66th minute. Offered little. His lack of effort after coming on was frustrating. How he gets on ahead of Chiesa is beyond me. At least Chiesa makes an effort and has made an impact as a sub this season, Gakpo is coasting through games at the moment.


Mac Allister - took the place of Jones in the 66th minute. Came on and did his usual of being as effective as a wet paper bag is at holding your groceries.


Chiesa - was brought on in the stead of Bradley in the 79th minute. He at least gives 100% and makes a difference, forcing the defence to react to him. He just needs his time on the pitch built up. Put him on instead of Gakpo and perhaps he could have played in one of the runs the left-back made, rather than totally ignoring them.


Ngumoha - Frimpong went off to let Ngumoha attempt to rescue the three points in the 84th minute. Another panicky substitution, as Slot just threw as many forwards on to the pitch as possible, with no real plan of how to use them. He did look like he could cause issues, running with the ball, but his end product needs work. He is still very raw and inexperienced, but he is not getting enough minutes to really improve and figure out what he most needs to work on.

Written by Tris Burke January 05 2026 07:59:58