To understand Liverpool’s midfield ‘problem’ you must look forward – and back Midweek defeat to PSG has raised questions about the Reds’ midfield – but don’t mistake transitional teething problems for long-term decline

For most Liverpool fans, these are the good times. The Reds are serious contenders for the Premier League title after a bumper Champions League run last season inspired by their fearsome attack.

Record goalkeeper signing Alisson looks like a gem, new midfield signings Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita showed promise while defenders Andy Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk, and Joe Gomez are being lauded as among the best defenders in the country.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has consistently raised standards and the energy around the young side is excellent. There’s every indication in terms of points that Liverpool are a much improved side on last season, and will narrow the gap between themselves and Manchester City.

Yet City, only two points above Liverpool in the league, are still seen as the runaway title favourites. Why? Other than the slew of records they broke last season, Pep Guardiola’s unparalleled track record and the immense financial backing they boast, that is?

Liverpool just don’t look as creative this season.

Strong start, emerging problems

Liverpool’s midfield started the season well, as signing from RB Leipzig Naby Keita slotted in and looked like he’d been playing next to Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner all his life. Seven straight wins, including a home victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, started to suggest a very special season was on the cards.

The first loss came in the Carabao Cup to Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea – no great shame, given the way they too had started. But the lack of potency in front of goal was an issue, as was an ability to control the play. A league draw with Chelsea followed, a 1-1 saved by a Daniel Sturridge pearl of a long-range shot, then an away loss to Napoli in the Champions League in a squalid performance devoid of creativity started to arouse suspicions in those following closely.

Liverpool’s midfield was starting to look less direct and more stilted. Keita’s performances had gone from mesmerising to average, and when he was injured in the match against Napoli, many acknowledged a poor performance had preceded his knock and a spell on the sidelines might suit him.

Earlier this week, against a superstar-laden PSG side, Liverpool managed a goal only from a penalty. Buffon was largely untested otherwise, while the Liverpool defence in contrast seemed vulnerable to attacks through their porous midfield.

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Jordan Henderson’s inability to stick a tackle on Neymar was widely ridiculed on social media with accompany gifs of the Brazilian’s heel flick nutmeg adding insult to injury.

While Liverpool’s defence has remained excellent for large parts of the season, the attack hasn’t been functioning to the same world-class degree. What has changed?

Attacking potency

The first thing to note is that midfielders appear more creative when their forward lines are firing. Few would have accused the Liverpool midfield of the 2017/18 season, which boasted at differing times Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Philippe Coutinho among its ranks, of lacking incision or creativity. A large part of the reason why is that the forward line bent teams to their will.

Mohamed Salah at this point last season had 15 goals and four assists in all competitions, while Roberto Firmino had nine goals and five assists. This campaign Salah currently has nine goals and four assists, Firmino has five goals, two assists. Salah is also losing the ball more frequently, while Firmino is making more poor touches and taking fewer shots. Both remain exceptional attackers, just not quite as exceptional as last year – and midfielders can only rack up assists if strikers finish their chances. Mohamed Salah in particular is registering many more missed shots, chances he simply took last season.

That said, this season Liverpool have averaged 14.5 shots per game in the Premier League, compared to 16.8 per game last season. The attack is dependent on the service they get, and Liverpool have had noticeably greater problems counterattacking teams and breaking with speed.

Liverpool’s expected goals (xG) per game from open play this season is 1.54, down from 1.71 last season. They are struggling to break teams down and counter them like they used to with direct balls from midfield, or over the top passes into channels. Part of the reason for the hesitancy will be new signings bedding in, such as Fabinho and Keita, while some of the reason is the type of game Liverpool are playing.

A brief look at passing statistics will tell you that players like Henderson and Milner are making fewer progressive passes and that the team’s passing range has grown smaller. Liverpool prefer to hold the ball, playing a less explosive attacking game, grinding out results in the league. It is worth noting Liverpool have only conceded five goals in the league – compared to 18 at this stage last year.

Is rotation an issue?

This year, Klopp has used more midfielders and rotated between them more frequently.

At this point in 2017/18 he had lined up his most favoured midfield, Henderson, Can and Wijnaldum, in eight matches together. Can and Wijnaldum started three games in a midfield two. Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum started as a midfield trio in two matches, as did Henderson, Coutinho and Wijnaldum.

This year, he has lined up with Milner, Keita and Wijnaldum five times, and with Milner, Henderson and Wijnaldum five times, tinkering with eight other line ups to boot.

At this point last season at least two of his favoured three midfielders (either Henderson, Wijnaldum or Can) started 19 of the 21 matches Liverpool had played.

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This season his favoured three is Wijnaldum, Henderson and Milner. Two of the three have started in 15 of the 19 games. Klopp has mixed it up a bit, but he’s still fairly consistent when it comes to lineups.

Evolving Liverpool

In recent weeks Klopp has moved away from the old 4-3-3 system for a more defence-preoccupied 4-2-3-1, acknowledging the diminished output of the three attackers and emphasising defensive shape at the same time. The reasons are detailed above – a less clinical (but still fearsome) attack, and a midfield that seems a little dulled of creative shine.

Alongside the 4-3-3 it has helped Liverpool keep eight league clean sheets, conceding only five goals in 13 matches on par with league leaders Manchester City. Two holding midfielders, usually Henderson and Wijnaldum, have sat in front of the centre backs screening for them, and allowing Firmino to slip into a No 10 or shadow striker role behind Salah. The idea is that another creative, attacking player on the field, such as Sturridge or Shaqiri, can add another dimension to the Liverpool attack in a similar manner as to how they functioned prior to Coutinho’s departure.

The system also allows Shaqiri to start on the right side and threaten wide areas, such as against Watford – but the way Mané, Firmino, Salah and now the Swiss roam, it could be interpreted as a 4-2-4 with four players in attacking free roles. For defenders, this is a marking nightmare.

Liverpool will find their feet with this system at some point. While the fast-paced counterpressing, counterattacking season last year was exciting, Liverpool now have a strong foundation at the back to start being more dominant. While we’re in a transition period for Klopp’s side as they adjust their style, notions this regime has already peaked should be treated with caution.

@LouisAlexDore