Only one team have won all three Premier League games this season.
Liverpool claimed all the spoils in meetings with Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Arsenal to kick off their title defence with a 100% start.
Arne Slot’s side wasted no time in adding to the ranks after claiming a 20th league title. In came in Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giovanni Leoni to bolster attack and defence.
Alexander Isak joined from Newcastle on deadline day to cap what was a wonderful summer for the Reds. Having only signed Federico Chiesa last year, Liverpool went all guns blazing as they look to compete on multiple fronts this season.
While they were unable to land Marc Guehi on deadline day, Liverpool are the overwhelming favourites to defend their crown.
Frontline switch impacting the defence
Arne Slot made an immediate impact having swapped Feyenoord for Liverpool last year. And he’s been deservedly backed in the market. A key alteration in the Dutchman’s debut season proved to be the switch from a 4-3-3 that Jurgen Klopp favoured to a 4-2-3-1 setup. But this season, personnel changes have seen Liverpool look a little more exposed defensively.
Last season, Slot favoured a hard-working trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. But the addition of Wirtz has impacted the balance of the side slightly. The German looks to get upfield quicker, leaving space in the middle of the park that opponents should be able to exploit more frequently. This has seen Liverpool already concede four goals in their opening three games. That’s more than they shipped in the opening eight matches of the 2024-25 campaign (three).
Wirtz offers less defensive cover than Szoboszlai in the middle of the park, meaning the Reds can be regularly caught in transition. This means they have already matched the two counter-attacking goals they conceded in the entirety of last season. A lop-sided frontline is set to become a touch top-heavy.
That’s not to say Liverpool should have turned down the chance to sign both Ekitike and Isak – the sale of Darwin Nunez and tragic passing of Diogo Jota forced the club’s hand in the market – but Slot has a greater juggling act on his hands.
This is in terms of both system and personnel. Liverpool, for example, have only conceded one goal with Mac Allister on the pitch. And relying so heavily on the fitness of a player who missed a chunk of pre-season due to injury is a risk. Perhaps the club should have paid greater attention to adding in central midfield.
Full-back issues
There are also teething issues at full-back. Kerkez is still adjusting to a change in system, while Frimpong has been restricted to just 60 mins of game time owing to injury. And it’s seen both Wataru Endo and Szoboszlai deputise at right-back. There is ample pressure, therefore, on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to lead from the back, though even the latter has looked a little shaky.
The Frenchman also has his injury worries, so too does deputy Joe Gomez, meaning there are risks with implementing an incredibly attacking approach over a gruelling season that’ll push dodgy hamstrings to the limit.
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Liverpool looked to control proceedings last season, moving away from the “heavy metal” football Klopp implemented. They had their explosive moments, but instead waited for the chance to strike rather than go all guns blazing.
The Reds relied on transitions, scoring more counter-attack goals (14) than any other team in the Premier League. Mo Salah alone scored seven of those. Now there is an imbalance to the side that has seen their key defensive numbers drop. And this’ll open up gaps in the midfield for teams to hit Liverpool with a sucker punch.
Change in profiles
And even in attack there will be a change. Frimpong is a different full-back to predecessor Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Dutchman looking to overlap down the right. The England international was a little more reserved, thus allowing Salah to hog the touchline. The Egyptian King won’t have the same luxury with Frimpong bombarding up the right.
Ekitike and Isak are also different profiles to Nunez and Jota. And while Ekitike has already struck up an understanding with Salah and Cody Gakpo, it’ll take time to fully adjust to a new-look frontline. Even so, Liverpool are going to be one of the most entertaining sides in the Premier League this season. Especially if wins over Bournemouth and Newcastle are anything to go by.
The relentless attacking will offset any defensive frailties, with the club’s firepower now expected to be enough to get Liverpool over the finish line. Whether it’s a sustainable approach remains to be seen. But we’re set to watch a more chaotic Liverpool side this season in their quest to defend their crown.