Liverpool's System: Who Benefits and Who Regresses?
A supporter’s look back at how Slot’s system has landed with the squad, and why performances seemed to tail off. Several core players are assessed with next season firmly in mind.
The much needed summer lies ahead, and looking back on the season I keep coming back to the same question: how much does the system impact the individual, and how much do the individuals make the system work? With this Liverpool team, I honestly couldn’t tell at times.
Slot’s approach and the bigger picture
It’s obvious Arne Slot’s one and possibly only strong suit lies in tactical play and breaking down the other team as the game goes along, but our performances within the system have probably gotten worse as the season went along. It feels like players have fallen out of favour with the style of play in a sense, and we’ve also missed the fitness levels of the past in general.
Nobody in this current system has really thrived or improved in any sense. Dominik has had a great season, to be fair, but that’s looked better due to other players having a major dip in their own standards.
Core players: where things feel off
Alisson: another season where we probably wished he was between the posts more often than it turned out. This season was a solid reminder of how good we had it with Kelleher as number two. I hope Alisson stays regardless of the injuries, however, he is still just too good when on the pitch.
VVD: he’s always on a 7 to 8 out of 10 level for me. I think he’s lost a bit of focus having the countless responsibilities of both the captaincy and managing the new back line, but the drop off hasn’t been as severe as people have occasionally slated him for. I do hope either of the new centre backs can help him recover the steps he may have lost over the years.
Konate: he’s not found a good run of form since the Endrick tackle. His time at the club seems to be at an end supposedly, and it might just be the best outcome for all parties involved.
Midfield and forward line questions
Macca: a bit like Trent, his mind seems elsewhere. He’s just regressed consistently all season, and I’m not sure where he ends up come next season either.
Grav: the biggest culprit in my eyes. Last season it was hailed as a master stroke of getting the defensive midfielder from within, with Zubimendi going elsewhere. For whatever reason he has been given more freedom and found himself stuck in no man’s land most of the time I’ve watched him, and his position and role seems the most in need of change in terms of stability for the midfield.
Gakpo: he’s had two decent seasons and two seasons of trying the same thing and expecting different results. He’s not good enough for the left wing and he plays the nine worse than he did his first season currently. Technically he’s quite sound, but his decision making and awareness is terrible. Perhaps the next manager will have an answer, or he will be out alongside Slot soon enough.
Promising names and disappointments
The most promising signing is still Wirtz, and then Kerkez for me. I hope both turn into core players for us soon enough, but who knows what the future holds. Both have the highest ceiling in my eyes, but they need to get there themselves.
The most disappointing has been Mamardashvili and Isak, but for different reasons. I don’t see either being at the club longer than a short spell, as much as I shall root for both to turn it around.
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