Arne Slot has insisted he knows “exactly what is needed to correct” Liverpool’s pressing problems, while discussing his ideal style of play.
Among the main reasons for frustration among fans is the lack of obvious direction to Liverpool’s play.
Rarely has the football on show served to get the Anfield crowd involved, as the Reds hover somewhere between a mid and low block.
The desire to leave an extra midfielder back has meant Liverpool’s press has been disjointed and ineffective this season, a far cry from the style implemented by Jurgen Klopp and continued in the early part of Slot’s reign.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's goalscorer Ryan Gravenberch during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Speaking to media including the Liverpool Echo, Slot mused: “Is it too easy to play through our press? That is 100 percent true.
“For large parts of our season it has not been as good as the season before. I know exactly what is needed to correct that.”
Arne Slot thinks Liverpool were more dominant against Chelsea than last season
It is fair to say that Slot hasn’t been given the tools this season to play a massively aggressive style of football, whether that be down to injuries or last summer’s transfer business.
We can only assume that a large part of Slot’s solution involves new players, younger, more energetic wingers in particular.
Asked how far off Liverpool are from his ideal vision, Slot replied: “We are further away than last season!
“By the way, are we further away from the playing style (of last season)? I don’t think so, but it has been less successful.
“So if I can compare this game against Chelsea (last weekend) with last season against Chelsea, then last season Chelsea were by far the better team on the pitch, but no one remembers that because we won 2-1 and we won the league so everything is great about last season.
“The reality is we were much more dominant against them (this time) than last season, and I’m not saying that we were great, absolutely not.
“What has been said a lot about us football-wise? What are the pundits saying we are not doing well enough?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot applauds the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Manchester United won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I think a lot has been said that we have been counter-attacked too much and that we were too open against counter-attacks.
“If you are too open against counter-attacks that can only come because you take a lot of risks – it is quite an offensive thought, isn’t it?
“So that says a lot about our intentions. If you are too open and you are attacked too much on the counter-attack that must be because you are attacking.
“You cannot be counter-attacked if you are in a low block.”
The issue of being open on the break was raised in a post-match discussion between Jamie Carragher and Slot after the very first match of the season, when Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2.
As the season has developed, this threat hasn’t been quite as obvious as Liverpool have implemented a more defensive style.
However, despite the more reserved style, teams are still creating too many chances against the Reds.