Liverpool commenced their new season with a familiar, yet evolving, style: a vibrant, all-out attack coupled with a willingness to leave defensive spaces. This approach sets the stage for a potentially high-scoring, though equally vulnerable, campaign where three or four goals might be a regular occurrence – and often a necessity.
This dynamic was starkly evident as the Community Shield concluded with a penalty shootout, seeing FA Cup winners Crystal Palace claim an unexpected trophy. The sight of Dean Henderson celebrating with travelling supporters contrasted sharply with the dejection of Liverpool`s players. Jeremie Frimpong sat motionless, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai gazed at their rapidly dispersing fanbase, their crestfallen expressions betraying more than just friendly disappointment.
The 90 minutes preceding the shootout raised a critical question: has Liverpool`s significant $356 million investment, aimed at refining last season`s title-winning squad, inadvertently created new vulnerabilities? For their initial semi-competitive outing, the refreshed front four, spearheaded by Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, looked more than capable of alleviating the pressure on Mohamed Salah, whose challenging performance was capped by a penalty blazed over the crossbar.
While new fullbacks were a clear requirement, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong appear to embrace an attacking philosophy akin to the long-standing contributions of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, rather than a shift towards defensive caution. Crystal Palace astutely identified these fullbacks as potential weak points, recognizing that a midfield lacking a dedicated defensive anchor would struggle to cover their forward surges. This vulnerability is now on display for the rest of the league, marking what some might perceive as the champions` soft underbelly.
However, exploiting these weaknesses requires contending with Liverpool`s devastating attacking interplay, showcased as early as the fourth minute. Kerkez frequently drove into midfield, creating space for Ekitike and Cody Gakpo. Gakpo then found Wirtz in a pocket of space, who, with characteristic precision, threaded a pass to Ekitike. The striker held off his marker before calmly bending the ball into the far corner, a testament to their nascent chemistry.
When this new front four clicked, it was a delight to behold. Ekitike often drifted left to support Gakpo, while Frimpong`s overlapping runs allowed Salah greater freedom to roam. Though this was a more subdued outing for the “Egyptian King” by his usual standards, the emergence of a new “prince” at Anfield, Florian Wirtz, suggests fans may soon be celebrating with similar enthusiasm.
Wirtz was omnipresent, dictating the tempo from deep or confidently dribbling forward. Despite drawing multiple defenders, he displayed an innate understanding of his teammates` positions, delivering last-second passes with uncanny accuracy, including a particularly exquisite flick to Gakpo that was unluckily not converted. The former Bayer Leverkusen star carries himself with the casual elegance of a classic number 10, yet possesses a relentless drive for possession. On this evidence, his reported $150 million-plus price tag seems a justified investment.
The deeper concerns regarding Liverpool`s recruitment extend beyond the initial impact. While new fullbacks were necessary, neither Kerkez nor the relatively diminutive Frimpong are primarily known for curbing their attacking instincts. When their forward play integrates seamlessly, it can be remarkably effective; Kerkez`s darting runs draw midfielders out, and Frimpong consistently stretches defenses down the flanks. The Dutchman even marked his debut memorably, an overhit cross floating unexpectedly over Dean Henderson as the clock showed 20:20, in a poignant tribute to the much-missed Diogo Jota.
Conversely, these aggressively positioned defenders were frequently exposed at the other end. Ismaila Sarr successfully lured Kerkez infield, allowing Palace to consistently target the crossfield ball for Daniel Munoz to exploit, with Gakpo offering minimal defensive support. Liverpool also struggled centrally, as Jean-Phillipe Mateta managed to break through on a long pass. Alisson initially thwarted the danger, but no defender was on hand to clear before Virgil van Dijk fouled Sarr.
It was a challenging match for the 34-year-old Van Dijk, who was caught out of position when another precise through ball from Adam Wharton found Sarr. A chip past Alisson revived a game that was otherwise fading in its final 15 minutes. Palace could have extended their lead, with Mateta skewing a shot over shortly after their penalty claim for an Alexis Mac Allister handball was denied.
The defensive struggles might have been mitigated by the presence of the first-choice midfield pivot. Ryan Gravenberch was absent following the birth of his child, while Mac Allister was confined to the bench. Although neither player is a natural ball-winner, their presence was undoubtedly missed. In their stead, Curtis Jones played a cautious role, while Dominik Szoboszlai displayed a peculiar habit of nonchalantly flicking the ball across his own half – a move that courts danger in most systems, and felt like a high-stakes gamble in Liverpool’s.
While this performance might represent the nadir of Liverpool`s defense, especially as the team integrates and achieves full strength, the defensive gaps exposed against Palace offer a clear tactical blueprint. Opposing teams throughout the league will undoubtedly observe this blueprint, potentially convincing themselves that the champions are indeed vulnerable and ripe for the taking.
