How has Slot built on Klopp’s approach?

Teams at the elite level these days typically set up in a 4-2-4 shape without the ball and this is something Slot has carried on from Klopp’s style last season.

Once again, though, this change has come with a more measured approach.

In practice, Liverpool’s 4-2-4 block is one that focuses on retaining structure and using that as a means of blocking favourable passing lanes to the opposition, rather than constantly pressing high to win the ball back.

The number 10 moves up and joins ufabet https://ufabet999.app the front line. Which forces the opposition into doing one of two things: either play the ball long and risk turning over possession, or play the ball into the wide channels where Liverpool are comfortable pressing and winning the ball back.

However, a lack of proactivity in this approach has been exploited by teams already in the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea both finding ways to bypass Liverpool’s front line of four and progress the ball further up the pitch centrally.

Slot is aware of this issue and, for now, seems to be content with the way Liverpool’s defence has dealt with the flaws.

“We want to have control of the game, we want to be very aggressive without the ball,” he said before the Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen.

“Maybe if we are not as aggressive then we are sometimes a bit too high. We still want to try, but if you’re just a fraction too late or open a certain lane, then they can play through you.

“The good thing is I always see my players running back really hard to prevent the other team from getting a chance.”

One of the advanced metrics on which Liverpool have dropped off is PPDA (opponent passes allowed per defensive action), which shows a relaxation in the intensity of their press.

Last season, they were second in the league averaging 8.9 per game. Which has risen to 10.8 this season. This means they are allowing nearly two more passes from the opposition. Before engaging in defensive duties.

Looking at high turnovers, Liverpool ranked third last season with 392 across 38 games. So far, they have accumulated 127 and rank seventh in the league for the metric.

Another interesting decline is that of dribbles challenged – how many times. They tackle an opposition player who is dribbling. The Reds averaged a league-high 20.2 per game last season but that has gone down to 17.6.