Technique’s There, Intensity Isn’t

Liverpool can look a really good technical side one minute, and then strangely ordinary the next. That’s the frustration. On the ball, there’s often enough quality to move it, combine, and create. Off the ball, or when the game turns into a fight, it can feel like we don’t always match the intensity and physicality required to keep standards up for 90 minutes, never mind across a run of matches.

It’s probably why some European games can suit us. When the rhythm is a bit more about structure and technique, you can see our better habits. But when it becomes about winning second balls, sprinting back-to-back, and sustaining pressure without the ball, the level can dip. Not in a dramatic, headline-grabbing way. Just enough to turn “comfortable” into “unconvincing”.

Depth, form and the same faces

A big part of it, for me, comes back to depth and quality in a few key positions. When the squad is short, you end up asking the same lads to play through patches of poor form or questionable sharpness. You can also end up carrying players who aren’t quite at it, either because fitness isn’t there yet or because the level is just a touch below what you need for a top-table push.

That’s where inconsistency creeps in. It’s not just between games, it’s inside them too. A bright opening, then a flat spell. A decent second half, then a sloppy start next time out. It’s the sort of pattern you spot as a fan even before you’ve finished your brew.

Pragmatism: necessary or limiting?

The other angle is the coaching. Arne Slot can look overly pragmatic at times, and the style hasn’t always been that exciting to watch. To be fair, pragmatism isn’t automatically a bad thing. Sometimes it’s exactly what you need to steady a side and build a base. But there’s a difference between controlling a game and simply getting through it.

And right now it’s not totally clear whether this is a temporary phase, or the longer-term identity. Is it the early part of an evolution towards something better, or are we settling into a version of Liverpool that’s a bit more “passable” than punchy?

Aspirations and the 5.5 feeling

All of this jars with what we hoped for this season. The aim is always to be eating at the top table, properly. Instead it can feel like we’re being served something that’s fine, but a bit mediocre. The technique and flair still win through often enough to tease you, to show what we could be. Then it slips away and you’re left more disappointed than angry.

Put a number on it and 5.5 out of 10 sounds about right so far. Not a write-off. Not a disaster. Just nowhere near as satisfying as it should be.

Written by Hugo Spritz: 2 January 2026