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Liverpool’s season fell apart before it even began. They thought they could replace Trent Alexander-Arnold’s qualities with Jeremie Frimpong, and also believed they could change the entire shape that won them the league into something completely different. Add the loss of Luis Díaz for Cody Gakpo as a starter, and the problems became obvious.
They thought they could replace Trent’s qualities with Frimpong, but Trent wasn’t just a right-back, he was a system.
He dictated build-up, controlled tempo, and functioned as a deep playmaker. Replacing that with a profile that thrives in transition and wide attacking spaces was never a like-for-like change, it was a complete shift in identity.
And that’s where it started to fall apart.
Trent wasn’t just creating for Liverpool, he was progressing the ball, breaking press structures, and acting as a midfield controller from deep. Without him this season, their attacks rely more on individuals than structure.
Then there’s the loss of Diaz to Gakpo. That changes the entire left-side dynamic, less vertical threat, more static build-up, making it easier to defend against.
Then the system change.
Last season’s base shape was 4-2-3-1, with a double pivot of Mac Allister + Gravenberch, which gave defensive stability and control of central spaces.
In possession, the shape often became a 3-2 build-up or even 4-2-4.
Trent acted as the deep playmaker and tempo controller. Play flowed through midfield, not just wide areas. They were more controlled and less exposed in transitions.
Out of possession, they had a compact structure (often a 4-4-2 press), with the double pivot screening central zones.
Salah’s role last season was that of an inside attacker. He stayed high and narrow and had minimal defensive responsibility. With Trent behind him, that partnership created overloads, underlaps, and passing angles. Salah attacked inside channels, combined with Szoboszlai and Trent, and became a final-third killer.
The result: 34 goals, 23 assists.
This season, everything has changed from control to runs and width.
It’s a total identity shift from what Liverpool are used to, both in build-up and overall structure.
Without Trent, there’s no natural inverted playmaker from right-back. Full-backs now have to stay wider and carry the ball instead of dictating play.
It’s still nominally a 4-2-3-1, but functionally very different. A No.10 (a Wirtz-type role) is now central, full-backs push high and wide, with less inversion and more width. This has already caused imbalance.
This is where the biggest damage shows.
With full-backs now pushing high and wide, Liverpool often lose rest defense structure. Last season, Trent’s inversion created a back three in build-up, which naturally protected against counter-attacks. Rest defense
Now, that protection is gone. When possession is lost, the team is more stretched horizontally, and the double pivot is exposed. Mac Allister and Gravenberch are forced to cover larger spaces, especially in transitions.
This create bigger gaps between midfield and defense, More direct access for opponents through central zones and prone to Counter.
The press has also become less compact.
Previously, the 4-4-2 shape allowed Liverpool to close central passing lanes and force play wide. Now, with a more attacking structure and wider full-backs, the distances between players are larger.
This makes it easier for opponents to, Play through the press, Switch play quickly into open spaces, Isolate Liverpool’s center-backs in transition
There’s also a lack of counter-press control.
Before, because Liverpool were more compact and centrally oriented, they could immediately swarm the ball after losing it. Now, with more players positioned high and wide, the counter-press is slower and less coordinated.
So instead of suffocating transitions, they’re reacting to them.
Salah has moved from “final phase” to “creator.”
Last season, he was the end product.
This season, he’s forced to drop deeper, receive earlier, and create more.
There are no consistent right-side triangles anymore, so he becomes isolated and easier to defend.
And when Salah doesn’t deliver, Liverpool struggle.
Anfield Sector@AnfieldSector
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