'Really noticeable': Alan Shearer says something jumped out at him about Liverpool's new system vs Inter Milan
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Rousing the Kop or go back to LFC Live.
Who was your Man of the Match during Liverpool’s brilliant 1-0 win over Inter Milan? Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say This finally opened the door to Slot playing Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in a front two together.As well as going with a slightly different forward line, the shuffle caused a reshaping of Liverpool‘s midfield, with Alan Shearer explaining exactly how the new system was working.Liverpool rely on midfield to help attack vs Inter MilanOne more reason Liverpool fans have been so desperate to see Ekitike and Isak paired together is to get a glimpse of Florian Wirtz pulling the strings behind them.Although it felt like the perfect time for Slot to trial this exciting formation, the Dutchman instead chose to leave Wirtz on the bench, picking Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister instead.Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Liverpool fans showed which side of the Arne Slot vs Mohamed Salah debate they’re on at San SiroOn paper, supporters may have expected Szoboszlai to play the ‘Wirtz role’, but as Shearer noted on commentary for Amazon Prime Sport during the first-half, the Hungarian rather shared duties with Mac Allister.“It’s really noticeable that either Mac Allister or Szoboszlai, when Liverpool have the ball the two centre forwards split, one of them is desperate to get up there and support them,” said the former Newcastle striker.With Jones and Gravenberch providing a shield in-front of the defence, Liverpool immediately looked more solid at the back, while the rotation of Szoboszlai and Mac Allister in support of Ekitike and Isak caused Inter problems.Given the personnel at his disposal in the Liverpool squad, this looks like as good a bet as any for Slot while Salah remains out of the team.
Much better from Liverpool? Alan Shearer quote Liverpool vs Inter 👇 Join the debate; share your insight.
Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say Slot finds the way to utilise new signingsWhen Liverpool signed Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz last summer, this had always looked like the plan from Slot.Of course, Salah would have featured in that as well, and it may still be that the Dutch coach wants to play with three attackers.But the make-up of the squad is such that this has to be something Slot looks to implement on a more permanent basis.It was not always perfect, and there were times when Liverpool looked like they needed more width. Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox