Liverpool’s current form is, to say the least, uneven. The team played 7 matches between the previous international break and this one, earning a record of 3 wins and 4 losses during that time. Fan anxiety
and angst is at a particularly high level for a team coming off a Premier League title-winning season.
But this is a result oriented field and we can’t be too harsh on those adjudging the success of a squad on the easiest and most clear terms: points gained. And Liverpool’s run of form – 9 points out of a possible 21 – simply isn’t going to cut it for most folks.
One of the obvious issues that Liverpool are encountering during this rough passage is that teams will absorb pressure in a low-block, wait for a Liverpool turnover, and then simply boot the ball high to waiting outlets. It’s a more sophisticated – if still rather ugly – version of the hoof and hope approach that would probably make Tony Pulis weep tears of joy.
Liverpool’s inability to bring home results has made this recent stretch hard, but the playing style of their opponents has made the match viewing nearly impossible. Some of that being owed to the fact that while defensive set-ups of the opposition has generally managed to corral the Liverpool attack, the Reds have created enough to at least leave fans disappointed at dropped points; it’s definitely faint praise but Liverpool losing to both Manchester United and Brentford on the strength of their performances feels harsh. Looking at the xG for both, Liverpool created twice as much as United and against Brentford likely deserved at least a draw.
Still, Liverpool’s attack has look a bit stilted post United, which also has coincided with Alexander Isak being out after sustaining an injury in Liverpool’s victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. While not necessarily the sole salve for Liverpool’s woes, having Isak available over the last three weeks would have meant being able to bring one of himself or Hugo Ekitike off of the bench to shift a match. Missing the Swedish striker has meant that the club have had to rely on a shorter bench than anticipated this season.
Thankfully, Liverpool fans mini nightmare looks to be over as Isak came on as a substitute in Saturday’s World Cup Qualifier for Sweden. The club’s marquee signing looking likely to be ready to feature once league play resumes next week – conveniently against struggling Nottingham Forest – is definitely going to add some bounce to Liverpool fans’ step the rest of this week.
Here’s hoping that Isak and the rest of the Reds away on international duty are able to return home with no further injuries and that Arne Slot and his coaching staff are able to draw up a game plan to not just beat Forest, but to turn a corner on this season. A title defense was always going to be difficult. But while I will absolutely admit that retaining that title is unlikely, I cannot bring myself to write this squad off. There’s experience and quality in this team, it’d be great to finally get a glimpse of it.
