How Slot's subtle changes can put Liverpool on front foot

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 1.

Match analysis: Ipswich Town v Liverpool

A successful, unbeaten pre-season has provided Arne Slot with grounds for optimism ahead of Liverpool's tilt at winning the 2024/25 Premier League title.

Following in Jurgen Klopp’s footsteps is not an easy task for the 45-year-old Dutchman, but Slot has been his own man this summer, implementing subtle changes to Liverpool's tactical approach.

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During this experimental phase they secured morale-boosting victories against Real Betis, Arsenal, Manchester United and Sevilla.

And it begins for real with a trip to promoted Ipswich Town in Saturday’s early kick-off, a match that will give us all a greater understanding of how Liverpool will look moving forwards.

What is changing?

Klopp’s high-octane 4-3-3 formation is set to be replaced by a slightly more controlled 4-2-3-1 system.

The use of a double pivot in central midfield will become commonplace under Slot, who wants to deploy an industrious but creative No 10 ahead of them.

Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott and Alexis Mac Allister are all candidates to fill that position.

It will be a key tactical role within the side because when Liverpool press, their shape becomes a 4-4-2, with the No 10 joining their main striker in pressurising central defenders.

Those two will block off the middle of the pitch and force opponents wide, where they will be closed down by players such as Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.

Previously, it was the front three’s responsibility to press, with their twin No 8s squeezing up from behind.

It worked well enough, with Liverpool’s PPDA (passes per defensive action) ranked second-highest in the division, but their single holding midfielder was often isolated or stretched when the press was broken.

Slot hopes to solve that issue with the use of a central midfield pair that largely hold their position. He will also sit that duo in front of the back four to offer protection when opponents have quality possession.

Slot’s impressive record at Feyenoord when it came to work off the ball, as shown below, indicates that his organisational methods are effective.

Feyenoord v Liverpool attacking comparison 2023/24

Look out for how they try to regain possession against Ipswich at Portman Road.

A pre-season pattern

Slot wants Liverpool to play out from the back and build through the thirds, but when rival teams push on and go man-to-man in a bid to steal the ball high, his players have shown a willingness to adapt.

In fact, two of their most eye-catching pre-season goals came from situations like this, when a goal-ending move began with the ball at their goalkeeper’s feet.

In their 2-1 success against Arsenal Liverpool scored a classic "up, back and through" goal after going long to bypass the Gunners’ press.

A lofted pass from Caoimhin Kelleher found Diogo Jota, he laid the ball back for Elliott, who in turn slid Salah in behind.The Egyptian then sprinted through to score.

Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal highlights

Only last week we witnessed a near-identical goal from Liverpool. This time it was Alisson who played the aerial pass forward once Sevilla had been drawn in.

Salah chested the ball back for Jota, he then released Szoboszlai in beyond the last man. After a barnstorming run, the Hungarian squared for Luis Diaz to tap in.

Luis Diaz's goal v Sevilla

Ipswich will focus on taming Liverpool’s attack this weekend, and the Reds pattern of play is unlikely to have gone unnoticed in their pre-match analysis.

If they opt to press Slot’s side on the edge of the area, Ipswich must be wary of keeping enough numbers back to deal with a move of this nature.

A different type of positive mindset

Slot has assured Liverpool supporters he will be just as attack-minded as his predecessor - and based on the body of work he delivered at his three previous clubs, it feels like a promise he can keep.

Averaging 2.17 goals per match as a manager, his teams have scored a fraction more than the 2.1 goals per match that Liverpool averaged under Klopp.

Average goals scored by Slot's teams

The clear difference we will see in the coming weeks is a more sensible, lower-risk style of possession-based football.

Asking his players to weigh up the benefits and consequences of a pass before they play it, Slot told TNT Sports this week that he has identified one distinct change he would like to implement.

"From what I’ve seen from the boys in pre-season and also in training sessions, they sometimes have to be a bit better aware of the risk-reward," he said. "And by that I mean, sometimes they take so much risk on a difficult ball that can only lead five metres up the pitch.

"I don’t like to see a boring game. I’m a fan as well, so I like to watch and see good football like the Jurgen and Pep [Guardiola] era, so everybody wants to see football where something happens.

"I’m not telling you now that we only keep the ball for no use, but sometimes keeping the ball a bit longer can only help us."

We will not see Slot rip up Klopp’s brand of football and start again.

Instinctively, he has similar principles but with the use of a No 10, a varied way of pressing, and more patience in possession, Liverpool will look a little different this weekend.

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