Arne Slot has a prolificacy to throw all his attackers on the pitch while forcing others into non-preferred positions, and it is doing Liverpool zero favours.
Ryan Gravenberch at centre-back and five attacking players on the pitch is how Liverpool finished their 3-0 defeat against Forest, not to mention Dominik Szoboszlai predominantly playing at right-back.
It is a move you would expect to see in Football Manager or as a desperate ploy in FIFA to try and stop the inevitable, not from a title-winning manager and not with the bewildering frequency we have seen.
In his debut season, Slot was deservedly praised, especially early on, for his ability to tweak his tactics throughout a match and make the tough decision to pull players early on.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool substitutes Andy Robertson (L) and Federico Chiesa prepare to come on during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This season, the Dutchman appears one-dimensional at best, and the opposition can easily prepare for what will happen if they score the first goal, as has been the case in nine of the last 11 games.
Slot’s substitutes brought him early joy this season with winners from Federico Chiesa, Rio Ngumoha and Hugo Ekitike, but now they create confusion and imbalance with little to no payoff.
To borrow a popular saying, ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results’.
Throwing every attacker on only leads to chaos
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté is replaced by substitute Hugo Ekitike during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
After throwing on Ekitike, Chiesa and Ngumoha against Forest, and notably taking off Ibrahima Konate and Alexander Isak to flip his side to a 3-3-4 formation, Slot told reporters it was a risk.
“I went to a 3-3-4 because I didn’t feel after my first substitution, we were able to create a lot,” he said.
“I thought with 2-0 down, let’s take an extra risk, but that didn’t work out really well because two seconds later we were 3-0 down.”
He then sought to underline how his similarly attack-minded substitutions were heralded last season – but that is because they worked, this time they are not.
“If you’ve tried for 75 minutes with four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers – although the defenders were midfielders, but that comes from injuries – then the idea was, but again I’m responsible for that, to make an offensive substitution,” he explained.
“Which I did last season as well, took Ibou (Konate) off and brought Diogo Jota in and one minute later – away at Forest, I mean – we scored the 1-1.
“Then, it was brave. Now, it is probably stupid.”
Slot ranks eighth for substitutes being involved in goals in the Premier League this season, but only twice in the last seven league matches has a goal or assist come from the bench.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 27, 2025: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa celebrates with team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai after scoring his team first and equalising goal the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Federico Chiesa is the only man responsible (against Crystal Palace and Man United), and his involvement twice levelled the scores, only for the Reds’ confused and disjointed lineup to concede late and lose the match.
In the 2-1 loss to Man United, Slot tried an attacking unit of Florian Wirtz, Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo, Chiesa and Ekitike late on, while Palace concluded with Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Chiesa and Ngumoha in attacking positions.
It is an acceptance that there is no plan other than to throw the kitchen sink and see where the broken pieces end up, which does little to bestow belief or confidence in the players or fans.
If Konate is constantly subbed off, that ought to tell you something
There is a level of stubbornness at play, a determination to put players in unfavourable positions when there are alternative options, which is underlined when midfielders move to the backline.
Szoboszlai, for one, is Liverpool’s best player of the season and while there is an acceptance of injuries at right-back, he should not be pigeon-holed in a position that inhibits his best qualities.
Konate is having a poor season, putting it lightly, and no centre-back has been subbed off more in the Premier League this season (five) – only Man United‘s Leny Yoro can match that figure.
It has often seen Gravenberch then pulled back into the defensive line when Liverpool are chasing a goal/s, as he did against Forest, to create further disruption and a lack of cohesion that negates throwing five forwards up top.
How does the ball get to them exactly? What’s the plan?
As per FotMob, after Konate’s withdrawal in the 55th minute on Saturday, Liverpool had one shot on target compared to Forest’s four, which included their third goal of the match.
If the Frenchman is not up to the task, play Joe Gomez. No wonder Konate was wryly smiling when he came off, as how has it come to be that he is the go-to change when the Reds are chasing a match?
It is no wonder that basketball matches ensue when Slot chances his arm as Liverpool are not defensively armed to keep the opposition at bay, nor are they any clearer as to what the plan is.
How could they be when a players’ position changes multiple times in one match. Szoboszlai must have whiplash at this point.
The start of a solution
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot applauds the supporters after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot insisted after Liverpool’s second successive 3-0 defeat that, “The solution is not that far away because in almost every game we are able to create chances, and it isn’t as if we give away 10 chances a game.
“But at this moment in time, we’re having a bad cocktail; the chances we create don’t go in, and almost every chance the other team creates goes in. But that will not go on forever.
“We also have to look at ourselves, what we can do better when we concede a goal because we are conceding too many, and two games in a row we’ve not scored.”
Slot cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results, though, he has to change to find the solution he says is “not far away.”
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Liverpool substitutes (L-R) Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, Rio Ngumoha, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, Wataru Endo and Conor Bradley on the bench during the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It has to start with being ruthless with selection by not consistently using ineffective players (what happened to the Slot that subbed Jarell Quansah at half-time in his first game?).
On that note, appreciate the players that are showing fight. Chiesa is a glaring example, he is the second-most subbed on Premier League player (nine) and has the joint-most output (two goals, one assist). Reward him.
Players must also be utilised in the right position; keep Szoboszlai and Gravenberch in midfield at all times, utilise the squad depth if there are injuries.
There is an understanding that Isak needs games to return to full match fitness, but there needs to be a logical plan. Ekitike had to be the choice against Forest and Isak against PSV; points can be made up in the first Champions League stage, they can’t in the league.
A clear head is needed. The solution does not have to be overcomplicated, it starts with doing the basics well, and Slot has to be the start of the chain, otherwise uncomfortable talks await.