Managing Liverpool as Florian Wirtz decision becomes clear and dream January signing found - The Mirror

Liverpool's poor performances have seen the current Premier League holders endure a dreadful run of results as we look at three ways Arne Slot can steady the ship

Liverpool need to act quickly before the damage inflicted on their season becomes irreversible. The past month has been abysmal for the reigning Premier League champions.

After topping the league in the initial weeks of the season, Arne Slot's side have gone on to lose five of their last six matches in all competitions. Now sitting in seventh place with four defeats in nine league matches, the Reds’ season is at risk of falling apart before Christmas, ahead of a difficult next five games.

Slot, despite spending close to £450million in the summer, has largely failed to integrate his new signings seamlessly as he had hoped, with his team showing signs more akin to a full-scale rebuild than a few minor tweaks. That has manifested itself in poor defensive performances and mainly individual moments of brilliance to secure results all season.

Mirror Football now takes a look at three key areas Liverpool need to address to get their season back on track, ensuring that this poor form remains a blip rather than a turning point in their campaign.

Fixing defensive woes

The full-back positions have undoubtedly been a major problem this season. Jeremie Frimpong was brought in as a replacement, although very different in style, for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer, with Conor Bradley also offering competition at right-back.

Meanwhile, Milos Kerkez was signed with much promise as the successor to the ageing Andy Robertson, who was kept in order to ease the Hungarian’s adaptation. But both additions have been disappointing, with Frimpong struggling for fitness while Kerkez has looked out of his depth at times.

Conceding first and having to chase games has become a huge problem for the Reds, while they have also been poor at defending set plays. Slot admits his side are losing too many physical duels, and the defensive frailties have even extended to the formerly imperious Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool must stop conceding free-kicks in wide areas and address set-pieces on the training ground. Additionally, Kerkez, as Robertson’s long-term successor, must be treated with patience. For now, playing Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk as the three centre-backs in build-up play and giving Kerkez the license to roam as an advanced full-back could give them more stability at the back.

Looking forward, landing an extra defender in January will be crucial, given that they missed out on Marc Guehi in the summer. Guehi could wait until the end of the season to leave Crystal Palace on a free contract, but Liverpool should move quickly and consider paying a fee for him to add some much-needed quality and competition for the remainder of the season.

End striker dilemma

Signing Alexander Isak for a British transfer record fee when new arrival Hugo Ekitike was already in top form certainly raised eyebrows. The decision has aged even more poorly, with Isak’s arrival being a disappointment thus far.

The Swede has struggled for fitness and dealt with niggles early in his career on Merseyside, scoring just one goal in the League Cup. Meanwhile, Ekitike has six goals but has been visibly irked by having to share minutes with the shinier transfer acquisition, despite settling in seamlessly.

Once Isak returns to action from his latest groin problem, he shouldn’t be rushed into the starting line-up. Slot should instead depend on the more in-form and reliable option of Ekitike, flanked by Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, while Isak closes out games and rebuilds his rhythm post-injury. Continuity and consistency is what Liverpool’s front line needs at this current moment.

Unlocking Wirtz

Prior to the Isak signing, Florian Wirtz arrived as Liverpool’s record signing in a £116m deal from Bayer Leverkusen. Yet, the German’s numbers in terms of goals and assists have largely failed to justify that hefty price tag.

There is a case to be made that taking time to adapt to English football is normal, while Wirtz is still creating chances despite his lack of goal involvements. But Slot needs to find a way to utilise his strengths.

That comes from using him as a central threat, ahead of a midfield pairing with runners on either side, instead of drifting wide himself. Being the primary link between midfield and attack will allow him to break lines with his passing and movement, while remaining more central will also see him make more of an impact in front of goal. For that to work, getting the balance of the pivot behind him and the relationship with Liverpool’s full-backs right is integral.

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