Just over a week ago, Liverpool seemed to be in a more optimistic place. Despite not performing at their best, they consistently managed to secure victories, leading to a sense of invincibility. This hopeful period, however, predates recent challenging matches at Selhurst Park, Rams Park, and Stamford Bridge.
However, relying on late comebacks, or “Slottage Time,” eventually proves unsustainable. Opponents who remain competitive until the final whistle can also land decisive blows. Consequently, the reigning champions have now suffered three consecutive defeats, with familiar underlying issues from their winning streak becoming more pronounced. Almost a fifth of the season has passed, and Liverpool appears significantly weaker than their title-winning iteration.
This decline is particularly concerning given that Arne Slot largely reverted to his preferred starting lineup for the match. This decision saw Florian Wirtz omitted, following debates about whether his teammates` finishing was the real issue, rather than his creative output. Furthermore, Dominik Szoboszlai`s deployment as a number 10 proved ineffective defensively, allowing Moises Caicedo to effortlessly advance through midfield and score an early opener for Chelsea with a powerful long-range strike.
This goal represented Chelsea`s most significant chance until much later in the game. Liverpool struggled to create clear opportunities – save for a blocked shot by Szoboszlai – until Slot introduced Wirtz at halftime. Szoboszlai then moved to right-back, and a subsequent overlapping cross, inadvertently flicked on by Alexander Isak, found Cody Gakpo, leveling the score.
The game appeared poised for another dramatic late turnaround, a pattern seen in Liverpool`s previous six matches where eight goals were scored after the 80th minute. However, only Chelsea truly pushed for a ninth late goal. They relentlessly exploited Liverpool`s vulnerable right flank, initially defended by Szoboszlai and later by either Ryan Gravenberch or Wataru Endo after further substitutions. Following numerous crosses into the box, Estevao capitalized on a back-post run from Chelsea`s right-wing attack, tapping in from close range to secure Slot`s third consecutive loss.
This losing streak is unprecedented in Slot`s time at Liverpool, raising concerns that their troubles may continue. Despite holding second place in the league (pending Crystal Palace`s Sunday fixture), the team appears to be grappling with deep-seated problems that even an attempt to replicate last season`s successful lineup couldn`t resolve. These issues became strikingly apparent by the end of this particular match:
1. The Irreplaceable Absence of Alexander-Arnold
Following Trent Alexander-Arnold`s anticipated transfer to Real Madrid, it was expected that Liverpool would struggle to replace his unique blend of ball progression and creative output at right-back. Alexander-Arnold is widely considered among the world`s elite passers, capable of dissecting defenses with a single pass. While players like Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk maintain similar ball progression rates to last season, the absence of Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool`s primary playmaking deep passer, is keenly felt. This void was even more pronounced without Florian Wirtz, who typically provided creativity in the attacking third.
Less anticipated, particularly before Jeremie Frimpong`s arrival, was Liverpool`s failure to replace Alexander-Arnold`s defensive contributions by this point in the season. Although his defending was seen as `improving` in his later years, it proved superior to Conor Bradley`s performance during a challenging 45 minutes against Alejandro Garnacho. Bradley, 22, was substituted to avoid a potential second yellow card, with Szoboszlai taking his defensive position. While Szoboszlai offered a glimpse of Alexander-Arnold`s attacking prowess by contributing to the equalizer, he couldn`t stem the flow of attacks down Liverpool`s right flank defensively.
The situation only deteriorated. Szoboszlai was often caught flat-footed by passes to his wing and became overwhelmed following Jamie Gittens` introduction. His static positioning and poor awareness allowed Enzo Fernandez to slide a ball through to Marc Cucurella, who then assisted Estevao`s goal. Historically, Liverpool teams protected their right-back vulnerabilities, but even Wataru Endo`s deployment in that area failed to alleviate the defensive pressure. Ibrahima Konate, who previously covered effectively for Alexander-Arnold, appeared a shadow of his former self.
Chelsea deliberately targeted this area. Marc Cucurella confirmed, “We always tried to attack that side because we know Salah is ready for the counter-attack. We practiced this, and the manager informed us the spaces would be there.” Liverpool`s inability to adapt during the match, coupled with the systemic nature of the problem, suggests a long-term challenge to resolve this defensive vulnerability.
2. Mohamed Salah`s Concerning Dip in Form
Liverpool previously managed the threat to their right-back by leveraging Mohamed Salah`s offensive prowess. Opponents were often told to overlap their left-backs, understanding that Salah would be poised to exploit any defensive error further upfield. Just months ago, allowing him open space was virtually suicidal for opposition defenses. Presently, however, giving him such opportunities might be a risk worth taking.
Mohamed Salah`s form has noticeably declined since Liverpool`s Champions League exit. Over sixteen Premier League games, he has managed only four goals (including one penalty) and three assists. His shot attempts per 90 minutes have plummeted from 3.7 to 2.2, indicating a significant drop in overall performance. This downturn raises questions about whether the `Egyptian King` delivered his final elite season last year, potentially driven by the pursuit of another title or a lucrative new contract.
His performance offered only fleeting glimpses of his former brilliance. An ambitious outside-of-the-boot cross was difficult for Alexander Isak to convert, as he leaned back and headed over. Early in the second half, Salah anticipated Wirtz`s pass but then shot wide.
Slot, however, maintained optimism, pointing to Salah`s four chances created and two shots taken. He pondered whether Salah`s high creation rate was due to being rested mid-week (where he was a substitute against Galatasaray), or if his missed opportunities stemmed from a lack of sharpness. Slot emphasized, “We brought him many times in the positions he`d like to be in. Today he had many opportunities to do what he`s done so often… It`s not like every chance he gets is always a goal; we feel like it is because of what he did last season, but he can have a game where he has chances in promising positions.”
Naturally, even at his peak twelve months ago, Salah didn`t convert every single opportunity, though it often felt that way. His exceptional form was a key factor in Liverpool`s strong title challenge. If their star player continues to perform below his best, the team will inevitably struggle to recapture their previous heights.
3. A Troubling Lack of Defensive Intensity from the Front
Interestingly, Liverpool`s statistics show fewer passes per defensive action and lower opponent pass completion rates this season compared to last. This might be attributed to their frequent inability to establish early leads, forcing them to expend more energy chasing the ball until the final whistle. However, these metrics don`t necessarily translate to effective defending.
Liverpool is making approximately 10% fewer recoveries in the attacking third. This decline is understandable given the departures of diligent pressers like Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, alongside the unfortunate loss of Diogo Jota. These players consistently put in the defensive effort last season, often compensating for Salah`s less intensive pressing, which allowed him to conserve energy for offensive moments. However, Alexander Isak now appears to adopt a similar approach, and it was astonishingly simple for Benoit Badiashile to thread passes through Liverpool`s lines directly to Joao Pedro.
Once that initial defensive line was breached, Liverpool appeared disorganized. A swift flick from Malo Gusto in midfield created open space for Caicedo. While Alexis Mac Allister might not be fully fit, another player should have been quick to cover that area. Throughout the first half, Liverpool`s play, from attack to defense, exhibited a notable lack of intensity. It`s hard to believe this team was under Jurgen Klopp`s guidance just 18 months prior. Even at their peak, the visiting side struggled to match Chelsea`s aggression.
Chelsea, despite their weakened state – missing six central defensive options by the game`s end, with Reece James and Jorrel Hato forming a makeshift partnership after Badiashile and Josh Acheampong were substituted for fitness preservation – were vulnerable. They were ripe for disruption with an assertive press from Liverpool. Yet, Liverpool failed to apply such pressure. Amidst all the problems outlined, this lack of intensity might be Slot`s most significant concern.
