At the minute, Liverpool can look a bit toothless. Not in the sense that we never get the ball, because we do. It’s more that we seem happy to have it in areas that don’t really scare anyone, and you end up watching another spell of possession that never turns into a proper chance.
That’s what makes it so frustrating. You don’t mind a slower build-up if it’s got purpose. If it’s shifting a block, dragging a full-back five yards too far inside, forcing a midfielder to jump out and leave a lane behind him. But too often it just feels like we’re playing slow for the sake of it.
The rare moments that show the idea
There have been little flashes that show what it’s meant to look like. The goal where Frimpong beats a couple of men against a set defence and cuts it back is basically the template. If teams are going to sit in, then someone has to break the first line with a dribble, or a sharp one-two, or a run that forces a decision. Same with Wirtz getting to the byline against a settled shape and nearly making something happen.
The annoying part is how infrequent it all feels. When you can point to two moments and say “more of that, please”, you’re admitting the threat isn’t turning up often enough. And if it’s scarce against poor sides, it’s no surprise it disappears against everyone else.
Slow build-up still needs speed
Slow build-up shouldn’t mean low energy. You can be patient and still play with zip. The ball can move quickly even if the overall approach is measured. It’s about tempo and intent, not just where the passing happens.
When we’ve got high control, that’s when we should be seeing runners down the channels, little sprints that don’t always get the pass but stretch the line. You want one-on-ones, you want defenders turning, you want them worried about what’s happening behind them rather than stepping out with confidence.
Passive without the ball, passive with it
Right now, it can feel passive in every phase: passive in defence, passive in midfield, passive in attack. Even when we’re in decent positions, there isn’t that buzz in the front end of the pitch, that sense of panic for the opponent. Truth is, it’s hard to sustain pressure if nobody looks like they’re arriving with any urgency.
I’m probably clinging to straws from the Wolves game, but I’m still looking for that uptick each week: quicker circulation, more channel running, more directness in the final third. If the energy goes up, the whole thing looks different. And if it keeps rising, maybe we finally get something that feels sustainable rather than just controlled.
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