Liverpool’s title defence in the Premier League is absolutely not on track at the moment. The Reds are in eighth position in the Premier League table with 18 points from 11 matches and have already endured five defeats.
A lot of people are claiming that Liverpool’s title defence is already over, as Arsenal have already raced to an eight-point lead over them. Manchester City have won four Premier League titles in a row in the recent past and Arne Slot’s team can take a leaf out of their book.
Liverpool’s Title Defence Can Be Put on Track by Changing Their Approach
Liverpool’s title defence has suffered because of the fact that most of the teams play with a low block against them these days. They are prepared to play negative football to thwart the champions these days, just as most teams used the same approach against a marauding Manchester City in the past.
However, Guardiola’s men dealt with it in a different way. Manchester City played with a 2-2-6 formation at times to breach the low block of the opposition, which was an ultra-aggressive approach. Their full-backs, Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol, used to go into overlaps frequently to be alongside their wingers in the final third. One of their three centre-backs moved up to be alongside John Stones as a holding midfielder and Rodri ventured forward to be with Ilkay Gundogan in advanced midfield positions.
Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva then moved further up from midfield to get into the final third. Thus, Manchester City’s 3-2-4-1 formation effectively became a 2-2-6 to deal with the opposition’s low block.
However, it has to be kept in mind in this regard that the Cityzens typically had slower build-ups, which allowed their attacking players to position themselves in the final third. Liverpool’s attacks are typically faster and hence, if one of their full-backs moves up the pitch, the other one often finds himself positioned in his own half.
On the other hand, most of the times the attacks are done through the middle, the full-backs do not get the time to go up. As a result, the whole attacking might of the team is not applied against the low block of the opposition. Even if Slot does not exactly replicate the 2-2-6 formation of Manchester City, he will have to make sure that at least four or five players get into the final third at the same time to break open the defence.
Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz can thrive in slower build-ups, but their other midfielders might not be suited for the same. The likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister typically like to go into attacks quickly. Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike also thrive in quick attacks that allow them space inside the final third.
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Playing Attacking Football Will Make Them Vulnerable Against Counter-Attacks
Even Manchester City suffered that way, conceding goals frequently from counterattacks. However, the quality in their attack allowed them to outscore their opponents often. The Reds will face the same issue in their Premier League title defence. In fact, they are already facing it, as a number of teams have scored from counterattacks against them.
Other teams are unlikely to change their approach, as it works for them. Hence, the option for Liverpool will be to adopt an ultra-aggressive approach, just as Manchester City had done in the past. That is a way Liverpool’s title defence can gain some momentum in the 2025/26 Premier League season before it’s too late.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / News Images
Recording Date: 09.11.2025
