Why Liverpool can succeed without Mo Salah – but not without their midfield

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Not only has he been fearless in showing for the ball and combining with his midfielders, he’s also Liverpool’s current top scorer with four goals in his last two Premier League appearances. Rediscovering intensity One key difference in Slot’s Liverpool has been a determination to keep a plus-one at the back.

When Yankuba Minteh has the ball, he’s under direct pressure from Jones, but Liverpool have eight of their 10 outfield players pushed right up inside Brighton’s defensive third. Jamie Carragher highlighted against Leeds the tendency of Liverpool’s centre-backs, particularly Konate, to drop in and mark central space rather than cover behind the full-back.

Consequently, it becomes the midfield’s job to track back and defend the channel behind the full-back when the ball is turned over. The last time Liverpool had a system that relied on the work rate of the midfield, it was Klopp’s 4-3-3.