Looking at Liverpool’s squad, it’s hard to escape the feeling that there’s loads of quality… and not enough of it being properly unlocked. Injuries matter, of course they do, but the bigger issue for me has been how often the side has looked shackled by the way it’s being asked to play.

It’s not even about wanting chaos for the sake of it. It’s about fit. If you’ve got a group of players whose best work comes in transitions, quick combinations, early balls and arriving in the box with purpose, then you can’t be surprised when they look a bit uncomfortable living in slow, careful possession for long spells.

Salah out wide: the clearest example

Mohamed Salah is the easiest one to point at because we all know what his best version looks like. When he’s devastating, he’s not hugging the touchline waiting for the perfect recycling pass. He’s sniffing danger, making that dart into the box, and being the first attacker you’re worried about when the ball turns over.

So when he’s being kept wide more often, it just feels like we’re choosing to reduce our own threat. You can see why a manager might want width and structure, but if it comes at the cost of getting your most reliable scorer closer to goal, then what’s the point?

Forwards need chances, not just possession

The other part of this is the forwards. If you change a striker because you want better finishing, that only helps if the team keeps creating the same kind of chances. When the style shifts and the supply dries up, you end up arguing about the striker when the real issue is the platform.

It’s the same with attacking full-backs and wide players. If you bring in lads known for being aggressive, front-foot, and productive in advanced areas, then asking them to spend most of the game as cautious recycling options can feel a bit pointless. Their best attributes aren’t being used, and we lose one of the easiest ways to put teams under stress.

When Liverpool go full throttle, it looks like Liverpool

What makes it more frustrating is that we’ve seen flashes of what the side can be. When Liverpool play with tempo, press with intent, and look to hurt teams quickly, it suits the talent we’ve got. It looks more natural. It looks more like the players believe in it.

That’s why sticking stubbornly to a setup that clearly isn’t clicking is what winds people up. It’s not anti-Arne Slot to say it either. It’s simply watching a very good squad underperform and thinking: why are we making this harder than it needs to be?

Written by Westwood666: 22 January 2026

Tags: efl tactics