I stuck Chelsea v Villa on and, honestly, it felt like a little snapshot of where the league is at. Not in terms of quality at the very top, but the general standard of what a lot of teams are serving up week to week. Sloppy build-up, slow decision-making, and the sort of panic passing that makes you wonder why everyone insists on playing the same way.

Villa, in particular, were painful trying to play out from the back. Not “brave” or “committed to the principles”, just poor. They kept taking that extra touch in their own half, inviting pressure, then handing it straight back after ten seconds of being gradually squeezed. And the thing is, it wasn’t even some perfectly-timed, snarling press they couldn’t handle. It was Chelsea, and they didn’t exactly look like a machine doing it.

When playing out becomes playing yourself into trouble

This is where the modern obsession starts to grate. Every side wants to build, every keeper wants to be a quarterback, every centre-half wants to split and receive on the angle. Fine. But if you’re not sharp enough, or your midfield isn’t showing, it turns into a self-inflicted mess.

You can almost see the hesitation spread: one player takes a touch, the next one hides behind a marker, and suddenly you’re forcing a pass that was never on. It’s not tactical bravery at that point. It’s just giving the opposition a head start.

Why the league feels a bit flat

There’s a wider point here. The game, generally, is in a phase that’s not great to watch. Loads of teams look like they’re following the same template, but without the speed or quality to make it work. Possession for the sake of it. Risky passes in areas where you can’t afford them. And matches that feel like they’re being played in second gear until someone makes a mistake.

That’s why results can be misleading. Villa have won 11 on the bounce, and fair play, you can only beat what’s in front of you. But it’s hard not to feel that a chunk of it comes from the opposition being poor as much as Villa being brilliant.

Where Liverpool fit in, even when it’s not clicking

Here’s the strange comfort: even when we’re playing badly, we still look better than a lot of the league. Not perfect. Not always smooth. But there’s usually a bit more intent, a bit more athleticism, a bit more threat in the transitions.

Ironically, the only side that consistently looks worth watching at the minute is City. Pep’s team press and they move it quickly when it’s on, with that directness that’s a lot closer to the Klopp-like model than people like to admit. Fair play to them.

Truth is, if the baseline around the league is this dross, Liverpool can afford a few off days and still come out looking like we’ve got a clearer idea. The job now is turning that “we look alright” into “we’re properly good again” on a regular basis.

Written by West Derby Wanderer IV: 3 January 2026

Tags: tactics efl