Liverpool kicked off the new year in much the way they ended the previous one on Thursday; with a disappointing and lacklustre display.
Despite results being better over recent weeks, performances have continued to be poor, and that was the case against Leeds on New Year’s Day.
First of all, let’s get one thing clear: the current version of Liverpool is much better than the one we saw through October and November.
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
Who was the most disappointing performer against Leeds?
Shocking display all round
Florian Wirtz during Liverpool v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Nevertheless, the Reds are such a hard watch at the moment for a variety of different reasons.
Whole games are passing without Arne Slot’s team producing any moments of real quality, and despite a raft of attacking talent on the pitch, the players are looking bereft of ideas. After watching Thursday’s bore draw at Anfield, Jamie Carragher outlined why Liverpool are so difficult to watch play right now.
Liverpool need to play quicker
There was an expectation amongst Liverpool fans that when the team’s results began to pick up, the performances would follow suit.
However, that just has not happened. The Reds are far too slow in possession and not nearly aggressive enough without it. It makes for a dreadful combination.
Florian Wirtz runs with the ball during Liverpool's Premier League match against Leeds United at Anfield.
Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher says one Liverpool star has looked ‘really sharp’ during the first half against Leeds
Liverpool fans became used to seeing pacy, attacking football for almost nine years under Jurgen Klopp, and while commentating for Sky Sports, Carragher pointed out that the comparison with his predecessor is really doing Slot no favours at all.
“There’s a lot of frustration watching Liverpool,” said the former centre-back. “We know this season hasn’t been great, but even during this run of good results the performances have been so-so at best. We know it’s different from Jurgen Klopp, a bit more controlled at times, we saw that at its best last season.
“But when Liverpool are struggling to break an opposition down and they would get a few passes together, it would almost play into Liverpool’s hands because they would press them, win it back and get the crowd going. That’s what they need [now] but it’s lacking at times.”
FT: 0-0 Was that the worst performance of Liverpool’s season?
Arne Slot crouches on his haunches as he watches Liverpool's Premier League match against Leeds United at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
“The results have been decent but they’ve certainly lost something in terms of excitement and goals.”
It is not hard to understand why Liverpool are playing the way they are right now. Confidence is still low despite a pick up in results, and it can be hard to be at your best in such circumstances.
Added to that, in Florian Wirtz Liverpool have bought a player who loves slowing the game down and picking up pockets of space.
Although he has been good recently, Wirtz has been doing far too much of that in matches which Liverpool badly need to quicken the play.
Others such as Curtis Jones are very guilty of holding onto the ball for too long, slowing the game down to a meandering pace.
Put all of this together, and you get a team who are losing the crowd game by game. Liverpool fans expect, demand attacking football. With nothing for them to currently get behind, Slot and his team are playing a dangerous game.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox