Liverpool’s high attacking line left them exposed to a quick counter attack, with Frimpong and Kerkez caught too high up the field. As the ball was quickly played forward to Wilfried Zaha, Liverpool’s defense was left scrambling to recover, with Konate and Jones forced into desperate last-ditch tackles to prevent a clear scoring opportunity.
This vulnerability in transition was a recurring theme throughout the match, as Palace capitalized on Liverpool’s high press to create dangerous opportunities on the break. Henderson was often left exposed in goal, with the back line unable to provide adequate cover against the speed and precision of Palace’s counter attacks.
Despite the promising moments in attack, with Salah and Wirtz linking up well to create chances, Liverpool’s defensive frailties were ultimately their undoing in the Community Shield loss. The lack of defensive discipline from Frimpong and Kerkez, coupled with the inexperience of Konate and Jones in dealing with quick transitions, exposed the flaws in Arne Slot’s new-look squad.
As the Premier League season approaches, Liverpool will need to address these defensive issues if they are to compete at the highest level. The attacking potential is there, but without a solid defensive foundation, they will continue to be vulnerable to teams that can exploit their high line and lack of cover in transition.
Overall, the Community Shield loss served as a wake-up call for Liverpool, highlighting the importance of balance between attack and defense in modern football. With adjustments in tactics and personnel, they will look to rectify their shortcomings and bounce back stronger in the upcoming season. Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s first instinct is to move to the ball, trusting that Virgil van Dijk will follow him. The Liverpool captain does exactly that and a first-time pass to Eberechi Eze takes him out of the game. On the far side, Kerkez is just about in the game, but on the right, Frimpong is a long way ahead of play and defensive midfielder Curtis Jones is static.
Ultimately, Jones and Frimpong dart back in time to recover, though perhaps that was at least in part because Eze is having to slow the counter down while he waits for reinforcements. Across the field, Ismaila Sarr is a very difficult pass away. These might be difficult breakaway attacks to execute, but in general, a defense is not functioning in optimal fashion when a center back is left one-on-one, even if only for a moment, with Eze.
This would not be the only occasion where Liverpool were stretched, giving up 14 shots and over two expected goals, including a penalty that had come after Mateta darted in behind the backline. The Reds posed plenty of threat of their own and speaking after the game, Slot seemed to acknowledge that this year’s iteration would deliver more open contests.
“In the whole preseason, we saw that we are able to create more and are more comfortable on the ball,” he said. “We create more chances and dominate maybe even more than previously. Last season we had a lot of ball possession, but it didn’t always lead to promising situations. Now we are better at creating than we were throughout the whole of last season.
“The other side is also true, that we’ve conceded four against AC Milan, one against a Japanese team [Yokohama F. Marinos], two against [Athletic Club] Bilbao and two again today. What made us really strong last season was we only won by a margin of one goal, mostly that was to do with keeping a clean sheet or at maximum conceding one goal.”
Slot insisted his side were not giving away many openings at Wembley, but he did acknowledge, “It needs a little bit of adjustment defensively because we don’t concede a lot of chances recently, but we do concede a lot of goals at the moment.”
Of course, Liverpool have previously found their way to strong defensive returns when playing with attack-minded fullbacks, conceding only 26 goals when finishing second in 2021-22 and 22 three years earlier. The compromise that Jurgen Klopp made was a more conservative midfield, with Fabinho dropping between the center backs while Georginio Wijnaldum and in particular Jordan Henderson prioritized structure, security, and cycling possession before they darted into the box.
You would not expect the same of Dominik Szoboszlai. While Curtis Jones was doing his best Joe Allen impression, keeping the passing accuracy high without cutting through the Palace lines, the Hungarian was flicking balls loosely around midfield, twice handing the opposition chances to counterattack quickly. In one of these instances, Szoboszlai exacerbated the issue by sliding onto the deck. These are not the sort of quick fixes that a player can try when there are so few teammates ahead of them and when their forwards are so reluctant to track back. That move ended in an unmarked Daniel Munoz crossing to an unmarked Tyrick Mitchell at the back post. Salah and Gakpo were nowhere to be seen.
Because even a defensively-lacking midfield and front-footed fullbacks could be mitigated against by a frontline that really works to get the ball back. Slot, however, dialed back the press in last season’s more cautious system, with Liverpool going from being a team who averaged six or seven final third recoveries per Premier League game to 4.4, the ninth most in the division. Salah’s out of possession burden was eased — it is hard to see that picking back up at 33 — while you wouldn’t have confused Gakpo with prime Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino. Wirtz and Ekitike were out of possession workhorses in the Bundesliga, but two players do not a pressing system make.
There are then issues to offset the scintillating attack that Liverpool seems to have developed in a matter of weeks. Liverpool FC is facing some challenges in their squad after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and the subsequent sales of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez. With at least $150 million to invest in strengthening their team, it is clear that reinforcements are needed in the forward line. Harvey Elliott, who came on for Wirtz against Palace, is uncertain about his future at the club. Additionally, the unused substitution of Federico Chiesa in a recent game highlights the need for more depth in the squad.
While Alexander Isak has been rumored as a potential signing, it is evident that the team’s priorities lie elsewhere. The focus should be on acquiring a top-tier defensive-minded midfielder who can provide support to players like Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. This addition would help alleviate the pressure on the backline and improve overall defensive stability. There should still be funds remaining to secure a center-back like Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace and bring in additional attacking options.
Despite the team’s shortcomings, there are many positives to build on. Wirtz and Ekitike have seamlessly integrated into the squad, showing promising signs for the future. Kerkez has also impressed with his attacking abilities, adding depth to the team’s options. With Salah in top form, Liverpool’s attack is set to be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming season. By addressing the key areas of improvement, such as defensive midfield and center-back reinforcements, the team has the potential to reclaim the Premier League title.
In conclusion, Liverpool’s squad has areas that need strengthening, but with the right investments, they can overcome these challenges and compete at the highest level. By making strategic signings in key positions, the team can build on its strengths and address its weaknesses, setting the stage for a successful campaign ahead.
