It’s funny how quickly a season can turn into a debate about “vibe” as much as tactics. Because on paper, Liverpool have more than enough quality to win matches. But when the intensity drops, when it all feels a touch flat, that’s when the conversation shifts from players to the man on the touchline.

Why Alonso feels like more than a name

I’d take Alonso in the summer, and I don’t think it’s just nostalgia talking. Yes, I adored him as a player. He gave us proper joy, the kind you don’t forget. But it’s also that he comes across as intelligent and honourable, the sort of figure you can picture handling pressure without theatrics.

There’s also the very real Liverpool bit of it. If you’ve got history with the club, the crowd often gives you that extra bit of patience when it gets bumpy. You can see why supporters think Alonso might get Anfield going in the way Klopp did, not by copying him, but by connecting to the place.

And if he’s not getting the respect some think he deserves at Madrid, that says more about them than it does about his ability to manage. Liverpool shouldn’t be scared of backing its own judgement there.

Slot: likeable, but is there enough spark?

I don’t dislike Arne Slot. Far from it. He seems a good man too. But watching us, I sometimes feel there’s a lack of passion, a lack of oomph, that edge that convinces players to go again when the game goes a bit stale.

Truth is, we’re not losing because we’re conservative. We’ve got great players who can score and decide moments. But it can look like we’re getting away with low intensity rather than imposing ourselves.

The cramp, the running, and the sideways comfort

The one I can’t get my head around is the amount of cramp some of the lads seem to get inside 90 minutes. It used to be extra-time territory, didn’t it? When that starts popping up regularly, it points you towards fitness, sharpness, or maybe how we’re managing games physically.

And even when teams leave space on the counter, we can still dawdle, turning a promising break into a slow spell of sideways passing. Against a low block that’s frustrating enough, but when the pitch opens up you want to see us go full throttle.

For what it’s worth, anyone calling this the most boring Liverpool side has short memories. I did 10-hour round trips from London for Rafa’s team, and some of those afternoons had me seriously questioning my life choices.

Written by Red-Will-is-1: 19 January 2026

Tags: efl injury