Liverpool 2024/25: New Era, Same Ambition
The Premier League is back, and with it comes a wave of fresh optimism, new faces, and renewed expectations. While teams like Chelsea have opened their wallets wide in a bid to reclaim past glory, Liverpool has taken a more measured approach, quietly confident in their tried-and-tested formula. Under the guidance of their new manager, Arne Slot, the Reds are gearing up for what could be a season full of surprises.
A New Chapter Begins
The departure of Jürgen Klopp last summer marked the end of an era for Liverpool, leading many to believe the club’s time as serious title challengers had passed. Arsenal has emerged as Manchester City’s closest rival in recent years, leaving some to wonder if Liverpool’s time at the top is truly over. However, those who count the Reds out may be making a grave mistake.
Jarell Quansah: Liverpool’s Defensive Bedrock for the Post-Klopp Era
Transfers bring optimism, and with optimism comes raised expectations. With one key addition in the window, in the form of Federico Chiesa by Arne Slot’s men, expectations have lowered somewhat for the red half of Merseyside. That however, may not necessarily be a bad thing for the reds. They can quietly go about their business without the added pressure of expectation and demand by their fanbase and the media. With lowered expectations from the media and fans, the Reds might just thrive under the radar.
Build-up Play in Possession
From his time at Feyenoord, it’s clear why Liverpool sought the services of the Dutchman. Slot and Klopp share similar styles of play, both favouring a very attack-minded, high-intensity approach. However, there are notable differences, particularly in the way Slot prefers his team to build up play.
Slot’s main idea and philosophy is to try to get the players as close together as possible in central areas. He often looks to find ways to create central overloads to create numerical advantages in that area of the pitch. While Klopp often used a fullback like Trent Alexander-Arnold in a lone pivot role, Slot prefers a hybrid position, with fullbacks neither too central nor too wide. This positioning allows Liverpool to form triangles on either side of the pitch, improving ball circulation and making it difficult for opponents to press effectively.
They are not too far in the middle, neither are they too far central. They are kind of positioned in between those two areas. This allows his teams to create little triangles on either side of the pitch, and thus improves the circulation and movement of the ball across the pitch.
This was evident in their pre-season match against the Gunners. As can be seen in the picture above, little triangles have been created because of the positioning of Liverpool’s full backs. This created a numerical advantage in the middle for the Reds, and made it very difficult for Arsenal to press them effectively.
In the recent pre-season match against Arsenal, this tactic was evident. Liverpool’s fullbacks created numerical advantages in the middle, making it hard for the Gunners to regain control. As the season progresses, expect to see this approach refine and evolve, as Slot seeks to establish his blueprint at Anfield.
Attacking Phase in Possession
Once Slot’s men get past the first phase of pressure, he works to further assert a numerical advantage in the middle of the park. His preferred formations, the 4-3-3 or the 4-2-3-1, are key to this approach. The positions of the two full-backs and the defensive midfielder are central to his plan.
Slot instructs his teams to play quick, short passes in the final third, emphasising the importance of keeping the ball movement simple and only taking risks when the opportune moment arises. The idea is to condense and flood one side of the pitch with as many players as possible. He also gives the front players the freedom to move and interchange, always looking for ways to isolate the attackers against the opposition’s last line of defence.
At Feyenoord, Slot typically utilised fellow Dutchman Mats Wieffer in the lone central pivot role, where Wieffer played a crucial part in the Eredivisie champions’ success last season. Standing at 6’2″, his height provided a significant advantage in the air, helping him win an impressive 58.1% of his aerial duels, which placed him in the top percentile among players in Europe’s top five leagues.
Although Liverpool attempted to sign Martín Zubimendi last season, Slot already has a variety of options available in central areas. For example, Ryan Gravenberch ticks all the boxes as a player who could replicate what Wieffer accomplished at Feyenoord. The Dutchman who joined from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich last season could become a main fixture in Slot’s team because of his high press resistance and imposing physique.
Once possession has been retained, Slot’s team then looks to flood the box as much as possible, once the ball moves to wide areas, constantly trying to create tap-in opportunities and high quality chances by encouraging midfielders to join in attack, rather than hopeful swings at goal from afar. Slot also likes to create equal but sustained pressure from both flanks.
Defensive Structure and Pressing Out of Possession
The advantage that the large central overloads create for Slot, is that once his team loses the ball, they can counterpress with extremely high intensity. Meaning they can turn defence into offence within a couple of seconds because of the overwhelming number of players they have in central areas.
From this picture, we can see that Liverpool have outnumbered Arsenal in that red space. Should in case they lose the ball they have enough men around the danger area to nullify the situation and threat. Like Klopp, Slot’s men will be most dangerous when the opposition regain possession of the ball because of how effective they are at counter pressing.
In case Liverpool’s first line of pressure is breached, they have at their disposal two of the quickest and strongest defenders as their last line of defence in Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk. Both are also dominant in the air, with Van Dijk winning an impressive 133 aerial duels ranking him second and Konaté 75 ranking him 11th among defenders last season. (Stat Muse).
Tactically, Slot’s game plan is very clear and straight to the point. Simply, he tries as much as possible to create overloads in central areas of the pitch, by positioning his full backs and pivot players in such a way that the distance between each player is as minimal as possible.
This gives his team control in possession while making them extremely dangerous in the counterpress. With all these physical and tactical advantages at his disposal, Slot’s men will be a very difficult team to breach this season.
Diogo Jota: Primed for a Big Season Under Slot
There’s a strong argument to be made that Liverpool failed to win the league last season for one reason and one reason only: Finishing. Their shot conversion dipped at the worst time possible during the latter stages of the season. Against teams like Palace and Everton they failed to convert the plethora of big chances they created.
For all Darwin Nunez’s creative and physical qualities, his finishing has always been a question mark. Unfortunately for him and Liverpool he missed a total of 27 big chances in total last season. This season, however, Arne Slot could change that with one simple solution: Diogo Jota.
Jota only played a total of 21 games last season in the league, but still managed to score an impressive 10 goals. He is a more natural finisher than Darwin Núñez and offers more composure in front of goal, whilst he also excels at linking up play and running in behind defences. His high IQ and spatial awareness will suit Slot perfectly as he will make runs that not only benefit him but either of the wide forwards as well.
Jamie Carragher last season said that Jota is the best natural finisher at the club, and while Mohamed Salah has a very strong case for that title, there is no denying that if Jota can stay fit over the course of the season Liverpool’s title chances will be boosted dramatically.
Conclusion
Liverpool may not have splashed the cash like their rivals, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of the running. With Arne Slot at the helm and a squad that knows its roles inside and out, the Reds are well-positioned for a strong campaign. The addition of Federico Chiesa adds another layer of attacking threat, making an already dangerous frontline even more lethal. This could be a season to remember for the red half of Merseyside.
By: Mark Bruce / @MarkV_Bruce8
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / ANP – Getty Images