Liverpool’s Wolves return and the underlying Slot issue: unleash and reset

The fixture list sometimes does this. Liverpool barely had time to process Tuesday night’s defeat to Wolves before remembering that they would be returning to Molineux again, this time in the FA Cup.

For Liverpool supporters, Friday night feels like an opportunity for revenge. For Wolves, it looks more like a chance to ride the wave of momentum created by that late win over the Reds and four points from Arsenal and Aston Villa.

But the rematch highlights something more interesting than simple revenge. Liverpool’s problem right now does not appear to be talent, injuries or even bad luck.

It looks increasingly like a tactical one.

What has gone wrong at Liverpool?

Arne Slot.

All right, that is the short version and doesn’t completely answer the question but is a major part.

And before anyone sharpens the knives, this is not personal. I like the guy. Slot actually handled one of football’s most delicate transitions rather well when he first arrived at Anfield. Following Jürgen Klopp was always going to require diplomacy as much as tactics. Klopp’s legacy is enormous. He reshaped the club’s identity, built a team that pressed like a pack of Canis lupus, and attacked with breathtaking speed and skill, delivering the trophies and returning the stature Liverpool had spent decades chasing.

Slot understood the moment. His tone was measured, his public messaging calm. No declarations about revolution. No dramatic “this is my team now” gestures. Continuity was the watchword.

For a while it worked. There was even a period where Liverpool seemed to land in a sweet spot between Klopp’s intensity and Slot’s preference for structure. The team still pressed, still attacked quickly, but with a little more control in possession.

Then, gradually, the dial kept turning.

The pressing softened. The tempo slowed. The perceived control increased.

And somewhere along the way, Liverpool lost a little of the chaos that used to make them terrifying.

The problem with controlling everything

Possession itself is not the problem. Plenty of great teams dominate the ball.

The issue is what happens after Liverpool escape the press.

Players like Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch are excellent at breaking through midfield pressure. Under Klopp, and early Slot, those moments often triggered a direct attack. Liverpool would surge forward, defenders scrambling backwards, the stadium rising with the momentum of it all.

Now the reaction is often the opposite. Instead of accelerating, the ball goes backwards or sideways. The tempo slows. Control is re-established.

And the opposition breathes again.

Defenders reset. Midfields reorganise. The infamous low block appears somewhat ironic given complaints.

Liverpool then spend long stretches circulating the ball around a defense that had already solved the immediate problem. From a more skilful midfielder in possession high up the field, you see a defender or goalkeeper kicking long under pressure. The odds are less favorable that something positive emerges.

Wolves’ winner on Tuesday followed a now-familiar pattern. Liverpool had the ball, had territory, had control. What they did not have was sustained pressure.

Control is useful. But control on its own rarely frightens anyone.

Talent masking the real issue

None of this should be mistaken for a squad problem. Liverpool’s talent level remains extremely high. On their day, this group of players can dismantle any opponent.

In fact, that quality has probably disguised the underlying issue. Individual moments of brilliance have secured points that the overall performance did not always justify. The oft-cited ‘champions know how to get the job done’ argument in the early weeks of this season always felt to me like rather lame analysis of a concerning situation.

Depth could always be stronger when compared with some of Europe’s financial giants, yes, but that is hardly unique to Liverpool. Against most opponents, the squad should still have more than enough quality.

Which brings us back to the manager and the message the players receive before stepping onto the pitch.

Liverpool team news for the FA Cup clash

Friday’s cup tie gives Slot an opportunity to tweak things slightly, although I’m not convinced he will.

Rotation in goal feels sensible. Alisson Becker had little to do in midweek, but Giorgi Mamardashvili is a high-quality goalkeeper and keeping him sharp makes sense.

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté remain the obvious centre-back pairing, though the full-back positions could see changes. While Milos Kerkez has really improved from his early nerves – I think Owen’s recent comments were just to make headlines – Andy Robertson remains solid. Given injuries, putting Joe Gomez on the other side is more related to the team’s potential attacking threat… although not his.

Midfield is where Liverpool’s control-heavy approach is most obvious. If possession dominance is expected again, Ryan Gravenberch anchoring the midfield alongside Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai offers both composure and creativity.

Unpredictability up top

Further forward, the attacking setup may be worth experimenting with.

Mohamed Salah - whether due to passing his peak, intensity he’s offering, or the above-summarised Slot effect – has too often been ineffective on the wing this season, dare I say, a passenger. For this cup game, I’d give him an opportunity to prove his continued worth with a start through the middle. Ekitiké is certainly one of the new superstars (this boy really is special) and can be on the bench ready if needed. I’d even throw in Chiesa to ruffle a few feathers if it’s not working in the first half.

Either side of the Egyptian King should be Jeremie Frimpong (hence Gomez) and young Rio Ngumoha. Both are lightening quick and full of tricks. The predictably of Salah and Gakpo has turned into a drinking game for some (“cut inside: drink”) with theories of avoiding conflict with highest paid player and nationality favouritism with the other now sounding like viable reasons for their inclusion.

Let them off the leash

But here’s the bottom line. We can all argue about player selection and the rights or wrongs of specific decisions, be that in-game management or individual mistakes, but there’s clearly a change in mentality before they step across the white line.

Their most exciting moments have rarely come from the carefully controlled spells of possession. They have come when the game becomes messy. When the players push forward instinctively. When the tempo rises and the opposition starts to panic. Those flashes remind everyone just how dangerous this squad can be.

Which raises the obvious question: why are they so rare?

The FA Cup sits behind the Premier League and Champions League on Liverpool’s list of priorities. But that might make Friday night the perfect moment to try something slightly different.

A little less caution, a little more action please. And a little more of the chaos that used to define Klopp’s best sides.

Because Liverpool do not lack talent. They do not lack attacking players. What they may currently lack is permission.

And if Slot is willing to loosen the reins even slightly, Wolves might discover a very different Liverpool machine, and that could be enough to signal a tactics change for the run-in. If the Dutchman sticks to his ways, the loyalty that comes with being in charge at Anfield is unlikely to last much longer. And there are others waiting in the wings to unleash the potential that is clearly there.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.