It felt like the same old story in red, just told with slightly different scenery. We can look tidy, we can keep the ball, we can have spells where the opposition barely get a sniff. And yet it still ends up shaky, frantic, and ultimately avoidable.
The first half was the clearest example. Liverpool were on top without really threatening. Plenty of possession, plenty of territory, but not enough proper chances where you think, go on then, this is the moment. And when you’ve got that sort of control but no cutting edge, you’re basically leaving the door open for the one moment you don’t manage well.
Control without chances is a trap
That’s what made going behind so galling. A single lapse, a bit of space left unattended, and Fulham punish it. If you’re not converting dominance into goals, you’re asking for trouble because football matches don’t stay calm forever.
The specific moment here is the one that sticks in the throat: Ibrahima Konate stepping into midfield, not getting close enough to stop the danger, and a run into the space he’s left. It’s not even about blaming one player for everything, it’s the knock-on effect. One decision, one gap, and suddenly their only real effort of the half puts you 1-0 down.
More speed, less control
Second half, Liverpool played with more tempo. You could see the intent straight away: move it quicker, take more risks, get bodies forward. And to be fair, it did create more opportunities. Enough, at least, to turn the game around without ever feeling like we’d hit top gear.
But here’s the problem: the moment we started to open up and chase the match properly, the control vanished. We didn’t look like a side managing the game anymore. We looked like a side hanging on between attacks, hoping the next moment goes our way.
That stoppage-time defending isn’t good enough
Then comes the bit that makes you want to scream at the telly. Late on, with minutes left, we drop deep and just… stop. Stationary bodies in the box, no pressure on the ball, inviting crosses and shots as if it’s inevitable. And when you defend like that, it usually is.
It’s not just about “desire” or “bottle”. It’s basics: get out, engage the ball, make them feel you. If you give any Premier League side time and space around your area, they’ll take it.
The frustration with Arne Slot’s setup is that it feels like the problem has simply moved. We’re supposedly harder to beat, but it’s come with a blunt edge up top. Then when we try to add more attacking punch, we look just as fragile as we did months ago. That’s not progress. That’s swapping one headache for another.
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