{"id":1403243,"date":"2025-10-07T16:27:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T15:27:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1403243"},"modified":"2025-10-08T10:09:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T09:09:46","slug":"liverpool-analysis-the-400-yard-problem","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/liverpool-analysis-the-400-yard-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool analysis: The 400-yard problem behind the Reds\u2019 sudden slide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Liverpool kicked off the 2025\/26 campaign with seven wins on the bounce across all competitions. They then headed into the second international break of the season on the back of three successive defeats.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It really has been a case of feast or famine for the Premier League champions this term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-arne-slot-doesn-t-know-his-best-xi\" data-level=\"3\">Arne Slot doesn\u2019t know his best XI<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-full-back-issues-creating-full-team-problems\" data-level=\"3\">Full-back issues creating full-team problems<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-knock-on-effects-in-midfield\" data-level=\"3\">Knock-on effects in midfield<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-a-problem-liverpool-have-seen-before\" data-level=\"3\">A problem Liverpool have seen before<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Reds went from eking out wins and showing great mentality to losing two of their last three in stoppage time. There had been question marks over their start to the season with a lot of people doubting how sustainable it was.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-liverpool-sustainable-challenge\/\">As detailed a few weeks ago<\/a>, everything was being blown out of proportion. Liverpool were creating chances and generally limiting the opposition. All while bedding in a number of fresh faces and trialling a new system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, it felt like a case of once this clicks for the champions, they\u2019re perfectly set for another title challenge. But with every passing game, instead of things becoming much clearer, the dynamic within the team becomes even more blurred.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"sq-toplist\">\n        <div class=\"sq-toplist__items\">\n\t\t\t    <div\n            class=\"sq-toplist__item\"\n            data-entity-id=\"1381348\"\n            data-offer-id=\"1381453\"\n    >\n\t\t        <div class=\"sq-toplist__item-container\">\n            <div class=\"sq-toplist__offer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/en\/go\/paddy-power?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Paddy Power\"data-placement=\"bookmaker-offers-content-toplist\" data-rating=\"9.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"logo\" class=\"sq-toplist__logo\" style=\"background:#115945\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/04\/29203621\/paddypower.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Paddypower Logo\" \/><\/a>\t\t\t\t                <div class=\"sq-toplist__offer-box\">\n                    <span class=\"sq-toplist__bookmaker\">\n                        <a href=\"\/en\/go\/paddy-power?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Paddy Power\"data-placement=\"bookmaker-offers-content-toplist\" data-rating=\"9.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"brand_name\">Paddy Power<\/a>                    <\/span>\n                    <span class=\"sq-toplist__offer-title is-tablet-visible\">\n                        <a href=\"\/en\/go\/paddy-power?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Paddy Power\"data-placement=\"bookmaker-offers-content-toplist\" data-rating=\"9.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"offer\">Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a350 In Free Bets<\/a>                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <span class=\"sq-toplist__offer-title is-mobile-visible\">\n                    <a href=\"\/en\/go\/paddy-power?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Paddy Power\"data-placement=\"bookmaker-offers-content-toplist\" data-rating=\"9.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"offer\">Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a350 In Free Bets<\/a>                <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"sq-toplist__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/en\/go\/paddy-power?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Paddy Power\"data-placement=\"bookmaker-offers-content-toplist\" data-rating=\"9.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"cta\" class=\"sq-btn sq-btn--secondary sq-btn--full\">Claim Offer<\/a>                <div class=\"sq-rating\">\n                    <span class=\"sq-rating__text\">Our Score<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"sq-rating__value\">9.0<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/paddy-power-bonus\/\" class=\"sq-review-link\">\n                    <span>Read our review<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n\t\t\t        <ul class=\"sq-toplist__features\">\n                            <li class=\"sq-toplist__features-item\">Enhanced Offers<\/li>\n                            <li class=\"sq-toplist__features-item\">Exceptional Mobile App<\/li>\n                            <li class=\"sq-toplist__features-item\">Fun Social Media Content<\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                <\/div>\n\t\t            <div class=\"sq-toplist__item-tc\"><p>#AD 18+ New Customer offer. Place a min \u00a310 bet on Football on odds of min 1.5 (1\/2), get \u00a350 in Free Bet Builders after the qualifying bet has been settled. Rewards valid for 90 days. Only deposits via Pay by Bank, cards &amp; Apple Pay will qualify. T&amp;Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-arne-slot-doesn-t-know-his-best-xi\">Arne Slot doesn\u2019t know his best XI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The elephant in the room right now is that the Liverpool boss doesn\u2019t really know how to get the best out of the players he has at his disposal. Granted, he\u2019s been put in an unenviable position. While the idea of adding two \u00a3100million attackers to your squad is what a lot of people dream of, the reality is very different. Especially when you\u2019re trying to get them up to speed fitness wise while also trying to find a balance that will allow a four-time Golden Boot winner to also thrive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Slot, rigid in his approach last year as Liverpool coasted to the title, seems unsure of himself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just seven games into the Premier League season and he\u2019s tweaked the system a few times already. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-florian-wirtz-liverpool-analysis\/\">He\u2019s also <em>rested <\/em>Florian Wirtz<\/a> in a period he needs to be playing as often as he can, to benefit the German maestro and the team in the long-term. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-liverpool-mo-salah-poor-start\/\">Mohamed Salah looks to be wasted in whatever system is utilised by the Reds this term<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Reds tied Conor Bradley to a long-term, improved deal in the summer and spent \u00a330million on Jeremie Frimpong as they planned for life after Trent Alexander-Arnold, but both have spent time on the bench with Dominik Szobozlai deployed at full-back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The message isn\u2019t exactly a favourable one when Slot would rather use an attacking midfielder at right-back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-full-back-issues-creating-full-team-problems\">Full-back issues creating full-team problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>But Liverpool\u2019s struggles this term are tied to the full-back situation. The Reds have tweaked their build-up patterns in an attempt to fill the void left by the departure of Alexander-Arnold. Not only that though, they\u2019ve had to adapt to Milos Kerkez starting at left-back over Andrew Robertson.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With these two full-back changes, <strong>the Reds lost 400 progressive passing yards on a per 90 basis.<\/strong> That is a significant decrease. With the full-backs no longer getting the ball forward as often as they used to, there\u2019s more of a burden on other players. But the new shape, which sees Wirtz roam as an attacking midfielder, isn\u2019t quite as rigid as last term. And this has limited the ball-playing options when playing out from the back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example in the 14th minute against Galatasaray, Konate doesn\u2019t have that many passing options on to him. In the end, he tries to clip a ball over the top for Hugo Ekitike but gets it all wrong and the hosts regain possession easily.&nbsp; Last season, Szoboszlai likely would\u2019ve been in the acres of space between the striker and Salah. Konate could\u2019ve threaded a pass into him. The lack of passing options would explain why the Frenchman\u2019s progressive passing numbers have dropped by almost 100 yards per 90 this term.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-knock-on-effects-in-midfield\">Knock-on effects in midfield<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s also more of a burden on Gravenberch due to Kerkez\u2019s tendencies to pass inside rather than look for players down the line. The No. 38 has to vacate the middle third to offer himself as an option for the left-back and then, as a result of this,&nbsp; the Reds are wide open centrally during turnovers in possession. It\u2019s likely why the Reds have kept just two clean sheets all season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1403245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-1229x1536.png 1229w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-214x267.png 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-160x200.png 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-48x60.png 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-120x150.png 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image-32x40.png 32w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/07161415\/image.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Kerkez just isn\u2019t a progressive passer. Nobody can do what Alexander-Arnold does. The new shape limits what Konate is able to do. Gravenberch, for all of his brilliance, is not known as a ball-player. He\u2019s a ball-carrier. The only player who can get the ball into the final third with regularity is Virgil van Dijk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It makes Liverpool predictable. It turns dominant possession into stagnate possession.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-problem-liverpool-have-seen-before\">A problem Liverpool have seen before<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The most concerning part of all of this is that you could see it coming. Last season, when the wantaway No66 had a stint on the sidelines due to an ankle injury, their threat down the right side diminished massively. Salah, like he is so far this season, was marooned on the right-flank. He was seeing the ball in areas he couldn\u2019t really do any damage in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without Alexander-Arnold on the pitch, Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League, lost the Carabao Cup final and were defeated by Fulham. They needed an 89th minute goal to defeat West Ham United at Anfield and it was the right-back who came off the bench to score the winner against Leicester City. He started the 5-1 win over Spurs, the game that clinched the title for the Reds, before starting just one of the final four as Slot\u2019s side lost two and drew two.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many put that run of form down to Liverpool having already clinched the title, but their momentum slowed right down the minute Alexander-Arnold picked up that injury.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the final nine games of the Premier League campaign, the right-back started two games. The 5-1 win over Spurs and the 3-1 loss to Chelsea. Liverpool won four of those games, three by the odd goal, while also giving up leads against Arsenal and Brighton.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a lot of similarities between that run from last season and how Slot\u2019s side have started the season. It also coincides with Mohamed Salah\u2019s struggles. He finished the record-breaking 2024\/25 campaign with two goals in nine. He\u2019s started this season with two goals in seven league outings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1403288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-267x267.jpg 267w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-60x60.jpg 60w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison-40x40.jpg 40w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/10\/08100937\/passing_network-comparison.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The passing network without Alexander-Arnold in the team last season looks remarkably similar to the team\u2019s passing network this season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was always going to be a problem. It\u2019s been exacerbated by the change at left-back meaning there\u2019s no progress on that flank either. If Slot can sort out the full-back situation, this sorts out the lack of progression from the back five. With this fixed, Liverpool should, once again, look dominant and threatening. That should get Isak, Wirtz and Salah firing. Only then will it be more feast than famine.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/premier-league\/\"><strong>Premier League predictions &amp; tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/premier-league-title-odds\/\"><strong>Premier League outright odds <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator 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attacking solutions against stubborn Atlas Lions                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/connorholden\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Connor Holden                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">1 day ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-chelsea-marco-palestra-new-signing\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                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class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/connorholden\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Connor Holden                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">2 days ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/spain-vs-belgium-penalty-analysis-world-cup-2026\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/09142325\/spain-vs-belgium-penalties-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Spain vs Belgium penalty analysis: Who will win if quarter-final goes all the way?\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/spain-vs-belgium-penalty-analysis-world-cup-2026\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    Spain vs Belgium penalty analysis: Who will win if quarter-final goes all the way?                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/harry-edwards\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Harry Edwards                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">2 days ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/france-vs-morocco-penalty-analysis-world-cup-2026\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/07\/09133027\/france-vs-morocco-penalties-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"France vs Morocco penalty analysis: Who will win if quarter-final goes all the way?\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/france-vs-morocco-penalty-analysis-world-cup-2026\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    France vs Morocco penalty analysis: Who will win if quarter-final goes all the way?                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/harry-edwards\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Harry Edwards                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">2 days ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liverpool kicked off the 2025\/26 campaign with seven wins on the bounce across all competitions. They then headed into the second international break of the season on the back of three successive defeats.&nbsp; It really has been a case of feast or famine for the Premier League champions this term. The Reds went from eking&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3567,"featured_media":1403256,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Liverpool have slipped to three consecutive defeats, but what's the story behind the reigning champions' sudden loss of form?","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1403243","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Liverpool analysis: The 400-yard problem behind the Reds\u2019 sudden slide | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Liverpool have slipped to three consecutive defeats, but what&#039;s the story behind the 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