Two Perspectives on Liverpool from the "Ivory Tower"

While 19 other clubs are fiercely competing at the start of the English League season, Liverpool seems to be observing from their "ivory tower." Mohamed Salah and his teammates have forgotten what it feels like to drop points. Although still far from their best performance potential, "The Reds" have consistently managed to win in their first five matches.

There are two perspectives to assess Liverpool after five weeks have passed, namely through the idiom of a glass being half empty or half full. The difficult and narrow victories in each match reflect issues that could pose a threat in the future. Conversely, it also showcases the team's potential to perform better over time.

If there are not many changes in the team after becoming league champions last season, the current situation may be considered less than favorable. However, the team coached by Arne Slot has transformed many aspects with the arrival of a multitude of new players. The achievement of a clean sweep of victories with a squad that is still in the adaptation process can be seen as a positive development.

The most vital change for Liverpool is the defensive structure without ball possession. Last season, they employed a 4-2-4 formation. The composition of the team without a pure striker made their defense more flexible. Players like Dominik Szoboszlai can lead the press and then retreat to the midfield when needed.

The slot cannot utilize a similar structure this season. It must accommodate new star players in the attacking line, including Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. The initial structure of Liverpool is disrupted because Isak and Wirtz are not specialist defensive players. Both players do not have the capacity to drop back into midfield like Szoboszlai.

At the same time, Slot aims to maximize the potential and reduce the burden on the 33-year-old winger, Mohamed Salah. Liverpool employs a 4-3-3 formation with Isak, Writz, and Salah leading the pressure. This scheme was utilized when Liverpool faced Atletico Madrid last week.

As a result, three players in the midfield bear a greater burden to protect the defenders. One of them is winger Cody Gakpo, who is forced to retreat alongside defensive midfielder Ryan Gravenberch. This has made the midfield of "The Reds" easier to penetrate by opposing teams since the beginning of this season.

We also definitely have to be better in the coming weeks and months. - Arne Slot -

Liverpool has conceded 9 goals from 7 matches across all competitions. In four of those matches, they let in two goals after initially leading 2-0. Fortunately, "The Reds" have always had a savior figure at the end of the matches. The winning goals in Liverpool's first four league matches were scored after the 80th minute.

The slot had to slightly sacrifice the defensive aspect in order to maximize potential in the attacking line. The problem is, Liverpool's attack has not shown better performance compared to last season. In fact, they have brought in Wirtz and Isak, who have successfully broken the English Premier League transfer record.

Liverpool has indeed become the highest-scoring team so far with 11 goals. However, their attacking threat is not exceptional compared to last season. Based on statistics, they have been able to score that many goals due to high efficiency. Thus, it is not because of an abundance of opportunities, as reflected in The Analyst's statistics.

Liverpool's chance rating this season in the league is just 6.98 xG (expected goals). That's the seventh-highest, still behind mediocre Everton (7.11 xG). This means they've scored around four goals more than expected. No other team has a higher efficiency than them.

As a comparison, Liverpool generated 83.5 xG and scored 86 goals last season. These two aspects significantly surpassed the records of all teams in the league. Their average expected goals per match reached 2.19 xG, nearly double the figure for this season (1.39 xG).

The biggest question mark is directed at Wirtz, who has not contributed any goals or assists during 367 minutes of play in the league. He is still struggling to adapt to the role of attacking midfielder in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Wirtz often slows down the team's fast-paced game or loses the ball due to being outmatched in duels.

Wirtz is facing difficulties, not only due to the move from Germany to England, which is known for its fast and physical style of play. He is also still adapting to a new role. Under the leadership of Coach Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, Wirtz has been deployed as a left attacking midfielder in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Opta data shows a comparison of Wirtz's touches at Liverpool and Leverkusen. He attacks more from the wing or left halfspace at Leverkusen. In contrast, at Liverpool, Wirtz's touches are more often in the central area or right halfspace.

The issue can be resolved through two possibilities, Wirtz's adaptation or Slot's change. Coincidentally, the tactician seems to have already identified the problem. In Liverpool's last match, which was against Everton, Wirtz was brought in from the bench to fill the left wing position. His role resembled that during his time at Leverkusen.

In addition to Wirtz, Liverpool's potential has not yet been fully revealed through the figure of Isak. He has only played for 81 minutes for Liverpool in two matches. Once he is fit and more accustomed to the team's system, the scorer of 44 goals in the last two seasons in the league will become a lethal weapon for "The Reds."

Slot acknowledged that Liverpool is still far from its best potential. However, with the quality of the players available, the sky is the limit for them. "So, we can definitely be better than this. We also certainly need to improve in the coming weeks and the months ahead," he stated.

Imagine if Liverpool could achieve five consecutive victories with a team that has not yet been functioning perfectly; what would their dominance look like at their best version? This puzzle will be answered as the season progresses. (AP/REUTERS)