Daniel Sturridge has said it is ‘worrying’ that, after almost two full seasons with Arne Slot in charge, Liverpool still don’t have a clear ‘identity’ under the Dutchman.
Premier League winners 12 months ago, the Reds have now lost 11 top-flight matches this term after going down 3-2 to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, leaving themselves too much to do after falling 2-0 behind inside 15 minutes.
Roy Keane bluntly remarked that, in the first half at Old Trafford, LFC played like ‘a bad five-a-side team‘ – the sort of withering put-down in which he specialises, but the performance before half-time was simply unacceptable.
Speaking on Sky Sports after full-time, Sturridge lamented the lack of a clear identity under Slot after two years of his reign at Liverpool.
The former Red striker said: “It is worrying. For me, what’s concerning is the consistency of the counterattacks they’re conceding. No-one really in the midfield or the attack is stopping the play higher up on the pitch.
“The identity is not there. They need to build a team that is in Arne’s identity but right now I’m not quite sure what that is. We knew with Jurgen. With Arne, we’ve seen a possession-based team who are slightly more methodical. When you look at the statistics of the team this year, the stats are way down across the board.
“You want phases of play. Right now, there’s not any phases of play for Liverpool. It’s quite one-on-one.”
However, Sturridge later added that he’d like Slot to be given the chance to fix the issues in his team for next season, stating: “They can get Champions League football, regroup, decide on the framework, decide on the players who are with you. You’ve got to give the man a chance to implement the philosophy.”
The pundit’s concerns about Liverpool on the counterattack are quite pertinent, with the Reds all too easily cut open by Man United this afternoon, most crucially in the lead-up to Benjamin Sesko’s controversial goal.
It’s one thing for players to be culpable of mistakes on the pitch, which Alexis Mac Allister was with his slack pass to give away possession. It’s another to continually deploy a tactical setup which is ridiculously easy for opponents to punish.
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Within a few months we knew what LFC were under Klopp – a high-pressing, hard-working, all-action outfit which could be defensively suspect but were committed to outscoring the opposition. Two years into Slot’s reign, what are his Liverpool side, exactly?
Sturridge may be pleading for the board to keep faith in the 47-year-old to ‘implement his philosophy’, but should that not already have been drilled into his team by this stage of his tenure in charge?
The Reds should do enough to qualify for the Champions League, which’d likely be enough to keep the Dutchman in a job, but the scrutiny over his position will no doubt continue into the summer after a truly dismal sophomore season at the helm.
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I honestly think we won’t get 5th place unless other teams below lose points
If there is an identity it’s a Dutch manager playing a Dutch system, technical, slow passing, in the premier league without the physical aspect you need in our league. First goal conceded came from corner which wasn’t properly cleared. Second goal a counter attack, a ball into the box. Third goal a cross into the box not delt with a shot from outside the box.
I’ve nothing against trying to build a technical passing team but you have to have players in the team, especially the midfield who can cope with the physical challenges of the premier league.
The midfield under klopp in his last season, gravenberch, Szoboszlai Alexis mac allister struggled with counter attacks. It was a weakness then, and it’s still there now. We don’t have one natural defensive minded midfielder in the squad who protect the defence.
If you add three lightweight players in frimpong, Kirkez and wirtz you’ll keep conceding goals in our league. Manchester United are a poor team that only knows to counter attack, but they’ve beaten us twice because the balance in our team is not right.
It is no guarantee we get ucl. The next few games are against teams fighting for Europe too. If we lose all games which is definitely possible with the kind of football we are playing. We could end up cheering on villa to win Europe cup so that top 6 can enter ucl and this is the ultimate disgrace to the best team in england… fsg this is on you if it happens!
Im sorry for misinformation. The only way for 6 epl teams is if villa wins Europe cup and finishes 6th. Then top 5 epl teams plus villa will enter the competition. The same can be said if forest wins Europe. If we do not finish in top 5, we are done. Manc saw the opportunity when Carrick was available. They sacked Amorim and went for him and got success. We see an opportunity when Alonso is available but refuse to act. We deserve this kind of football and slump. Fsg take note!
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