Jim D

Dom and Gravenberch are ideal as a two sitting in front of the defence. They can rotate, one can sit and the other can help join the attack in my opinion. They could set up as a 4-2-3-1 or as a 3-4-1-2. If you go 4-2-3-1 then you could feasibly play: Bradley/Frimpong Konate Van Dijk Robertson/Kerkez Dom Gravenberch Salah Wirtz Gakpo Isak/Ekitike Play Wirtz in the Gerrard role in behind the front man. The only flaw with this system is both Mo and Gakpo MUST track back to provide support to the full backs so our defensive shape becomes a 4-4-1-1. If you go 3-4-1-2 then you can play: Konate Van Dijk Gomez Bradley/Frimpong Dom Gravenberch Robertson/Kerkez Wirtz Salah/Isak/Ekitike Salah/Isak/Ekitike Gives the front men more licence to focus on attack and not having to track back. Our defensive shape then becomes a 5-3-2. It really is a dilemma for Slot to solve because the status quo is not working, he needs to try something different.

Don't agree, football always evolves, managers are continuously trying find new ways to exploit weaknesses in the oppositions system. Chelsea recently won the Premier League playing three at the back it can be done. Look at the rise of long throws ins/corners and set pieces making a comeback in the game as a genuine tactic. If you are not convinced in three at the back then the only other alternative with the players we have is a 4-4-1-1 with Wirtz in the Gerrard/Dalglish role. Even then the two wide men have to be willing to track back and defend to support the fullbacks.

Yes and even if we don't have the cover at centre back right now, why not just adopt the new system so it gives the players the rest of the season to work on it and adapt? You could play Gomez, Van Dijk and Konate in the back three right now and if an injury occurs we know Robertson can play there. Heck even call up one of the lads from the academy. If Jurgen can do it with Williams and Philips so can Slot. Then you can have two midfielders sitting in front of the back three Gravenberch and Dom, one can sit and one can go forward and rotate. Then up top you can play Wirtz in behind a front two from a choice of Mo/Ekiteke/Isak.

Wirtz, Kerkez, Isak, Frimpong. They're not bad players, they're international class and were outstanding for their respective clubs last season. The problem is with how they're being implemented. If Wirtz and Mo are in the same side under the current system then it's going to put our midfield and full backs under extra stress since they either are being instructed to not track back or unwilling to do it at all. This isn't a personnel problem, it's clearly tactical. We are not getting the best out of these players at our disposal, it's so obvious that it's literally staring at you in the face. Its time to dump the 4-3-3 and adapt our game because it's clear from our form that we being found out and our same weaknesses are being exposed time and time again. Question is can Slot see this? Or will he stubbornly stick to the same system and is hoping it will just click. I'm convinced we should adopt a fluid 3-4-2-1, 3-4-1-2, 5-4-1 system it's the best formation that plays to all of our new signings strengths. Perhaps this was Slot's intention all along but the Guehi transfer fell through and the unexpected injury to Leoni meant he could no longer adopt it due to a lack of cover at centre back?

That's a f***ing appalling stat. Clear to me the players are not motivated and giving a s*** in the premier league.

Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez Bradley/Frimpong, Gravenberch, Dom, Kerkez/Robertson Wirtz Mo/Ekiteke/Isak/Gakpo (Any two) I think would work better, more solidity in the midfield.

Not in the starting eleven that's for sure its clear to me he is not suited to a 4-3-3 system. If you want the Flo who played for Leverkusen last season then change the system. Moving between 3-4-2-1, 3-4-3, with the ball and 5-4-1 without the ball.

In the current system he's just a luxury player, we're basically playing with ten men most games.

Not willing to go there yet, many managers who won the title have had a poor second season. Shankly finished 7th after winning the title in 1964. Shankly finished 5th after winning the title in 1966. Paisley finished 5th after winning the league in 1980. Sometimes in football it is hard to stay at the top, in the premier league era only Ferguson, Mourinho and Guardiola have retained the title. Though I need to see some sort of intent from Slot to change things, if he maintains the status quo and appears to have no solution to the current predicament then I would consider to start moving towards your scenario.

That's is THE most worrying part about it, you went after these players in the summer for a reason, you don't just spend 400million quid after winning a league championship without a plan in mind in how you intent to integrate these new players into a system. Its all very much looking like square pegs in round holes. We've not got the best out of any of our new signings with maybe the exception of Ekitike and he's been inconsistent. The current system of play is not working, the title is gone, its now time to scrap the current system, experiment and get the best out of these new signings before it is too late. 3-4-1-2, 3-5-2, I don't know, because our 4-3-3 is not working in the premier league, the midfield is constantly getting outmuscled, overran and bypassed. The front 3 as a unit aren't helping matters either, not tracking back and helping with defensive duties.

Outstanding against Real but been a shadow of his former self in games against Premier League opposition. Is it an age issue? Motivation issue?

He's a very talented player but the system and the way we play are not working to his strengths. He hasn't become a awful player overnight but at the same time he needs to work harder in his game.

Agreed but the formation and/or players he is picking in Premier League games is certainly not working. We've appeared to have lost that desire and hunger from last season particularly after the title was wrapped up. Complacency has set in and it's up to the manager to motivate the players again. He's getting closer and closer to the edge of cliff even when taking the Real Madrid game into consideration.

Posted this in the City thread but I thought it worth a repost in here. Funny how we looked so much better during the week against Real Madrid then turn in a performance like that against Man City. It's clear to see our squad and the players within are not up to the task and the demands in the Premier League. We're not solid enough, we don't work hard enough, we're not strong enough, and individual players cannot or can no longer meet these demands. (Wirtz and Salah) Our squad appears to be better suited to the Champions League. Title is gone it's now a monumental scrap for the top four. It's time to change the system for the Premier League it's just not working with the players at our disposal. To lose 40% of your matches after going out against PSG shocked me to be honest and if it was at any other time during a campaign it's easily a sackable offence.

Funny how we looked so much better during the week against Real Madrid then turn in a performance like that against Man City. It's clear to see our squad and the players within in are not up to the task and the demands in the Premier League. We're not solid enough, we don't work hard enough, we're not strong enough, and individual players cannot or can no longer meet this demands. Our squad appears to be better suited to the Champions League. Title is gone it's now a monumental scrap for the top four.

What the hell did they do to the topic wrapper?!

Past two games we've looked more like a team. There is a balance, desire, and connectivity to the players. This is the Liverpool we've come to known and love under Slot. So what changed from the previous five games? Was it a tactical tweak? A personnel tweak? Bit of both? Answers on a postcard please.

Good result and a fantastic performance, fully deserved victory. We're starting to get back to where we were last season. Beat City I say we've truly turned the corner.

Arsenal just don't concede and if you don't concede goals you don't lose games. They're the in form team at the moment and look solid as a rock. They're the title favourites and rightly so. For us to claw ourselves back to them it's going to take a extraordinary turn around in form and go on a sustained winning streak.

Dom is now one of the first names on the team sheet. He's been our most consistent player this season.

Save Robbo for Man City, at this stage of the season that's the bigger game out of the two. Kerkez needs to play to get into some sort of form so he starts against Real.

One swallow does not make a summer. Good victory but the next two games will tell us whether we're back to where we were last season. Against Real a victory would be sweet but not required, I've not even looked at the CL table but based upon last season it doesn't require a lot of points to get to the knock out stages.

I think Kerkez and Wirtz need to be shown they both got to earn their place in the starting eleven. Wirtz though is starting to look very much like a square peg in round hole unless we change our formation. Kerkez needs to get his act together, he was one of the best full backs in the league last season and this season he is looking awful. Robertson was more accomplished yesterday and Kerkez needs to follow his lead. Same here, a win, a clean sheet, good victory against a team coming off the back of four wins on the bounce with the last coming against Man City.

Christ we needed that, much better, we looked more balanced as a side. Went back to our tried and tested formation of last season. I suspect Arne is going to persist with this for the foreseeable future. Wirtz and Kerkez really need to step up and quick. Terrible indictment of them that we looked so much better without them starting.

Think we should go strong, we desperately need a win to gain back some confidence. This is an ideal game to test out a new system with the players. 3-4-1-2 or 4-2-3-1, ditch the 4-3-3 its not working for toffee.