The number 10 moves up and joins 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.”
