Liverpool 2.0 launched at Wembley - and Slot has bugs to fix

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Four of Liverpool's summer acquisitions made their initial competitive appearances for the club during the Community Shield, where they faced a penalty shootout loss to Crystal Palace.

Record signing Florian Wirtz, acquired for £116m, took on the role of attacking midfielder, while Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez constituted a fresh full-back duo, with Hugo Ekitike positioned as the central forward.

The sole newcomer absent from the starting lineup was goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who remained on the bench while Alisson maintained his role.

There were evident indications that the overhaul could yield impressive outcomes. The match concluded with a 2-2 draw, featuring goals from Ekitike and Frimpong. This marked the first instance since August 2006 that two players scored on their competitive debuts for Liverpool, when Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez found the net against Maccabi Haifa.

However, Liverpool 2.0 displayed some flaws. The team relinquished leads on two occasions, exhibited defensive sloppiness, and appeared vulnerable in the final moments.

"We have four new players – we need time to adjust," said Slot during his post-match press conference at Wembley.

In this context, the Community Shield was not an isolated event. During a 3-2 friendly victory against Athletic Bilbao the previous Monday, Liverpool allowed two goals from set-pieces.

Crystal Palace arguably capitalized on just two significant opportunities in this match: Jean-Philippe Mateta's penalty in the 13th minute and Ismaila Sarr's attempt in the closing minutes, scoring on both occasions.

As Slot succinctly put it, "We limit chances, but we concede goals."

New full-backs, new approach to play?

Starting with the defense, one of Liverpool's hallmark characteristics in recent years, particularly under Jurgen Klopp, was the attacking drive provided by full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.

Frimpong and Kerkez, in many respects, share a similar profile – they are both more offensive-minded than conventional full-backs.

However, while Kerkez mirrors Robertson's playing style closely, Frimpong tends to remain wider than his predecessor. Don’t anticipate many forays into central midfield resembling those of Alexander-Arnold, but look forward to traditional overlapping runs.

This attacking inclination directly contributed to Liverpool’s second goal when Frimpong maneuvered into the box and deftly chipped the ball over Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Whether intentional or not, his infiltration into the area showcased remarkable skill and audacity.

Nevertheless, defensive concerns persist. Liverpool had hoped Frimpong would provide the defensive reliability sometimes missing with Alexander-Arnold, yet the Dutchman inadvertently played Sarr onside for the second equalizing goal.

The defensive vulnerabilities were not limited to the full-backs. The team was easily breached before the penalty awarded in the first half, with Mateta finding space from a through ball that ultimately led to Virgil van Dijk's foul on Sarr.

Liverpool's bench lacked a recognized centre-back, as Jarell Quansah had transferred to Bayer Leverkusen, and Joe Gomez was sidelined due to a "minor injury."

Slot anticipates Gomez's return soon, but Liverpool will need to secure at least one additional central defender ahead of the transfer deadline on September 1.

The individual they are keen to recruit led the opposing team at Wembley. Marc Guehi, who is the focus of transfer rumors as he enters the final year of his contract, once again committed fully to Palace before being substituted in the closing moments due to cramping.

Is Wirtz the crucial 'dominant' addition?

Transitioning into the midfield, Wirtz emerged as the standout Liverpool player at Wembley. Slot has evidently adjusted the strategy to accommodate their record signing, and the initial indicators are encouraging.

Wirtz has been assigned a more liberated and advanced role compared to what Liverpool previously utilized from an attacking midfielder—there was no one to fill this position last season.

At times, he nearly established a striking partnership with Ekitike, they were that closely aligned. In fact, by the time he was replaced, Wirtz was playing as a false nine while Ekitike had already been substituted.

This liberty permitted the German to drift wide left only four minutes into the match, where he received the ball and assisted Ekitike for the opening goal.

The buildup to Liverpool's first goal comprised 22 passes, a sequence lasting 66 seconds and involving nine players.

Up until his exit in the 84th minute, Wirtz appeared completely in control, balanced, and composed. His impact on the pitch for Liverpool is becoming increasingly evident.

At the time he was substituted, Wirtz was at the top of the charts for passes, final third entries, crosses, and touches within the Palace penalty area. Overall, he ranked third in total touches. Everything funneled through him.

"He was showing signs of fatigue towards the end, which is something he will need to adapt to. But he is looking like a fantastic addition to the team."

This situation raises potential questions regarding Mohamed Salah’s position within the team. The Egyptian has gone without a goal in eight appearances at Wembley, recorded just one shot on target, and missed his penalty in the shootout by sending it over. However, that is a topic for another discussion.

What impact did Ekitike have?

Positioned ahead of Wirtz, Ekitike displays the qualities of a true, traditional center forward that Liverpool previously lacked due to Darwin Nunez's shortcomings.

His goal was expertly executed, and his first-half cross with the outside of his boot that found Cody Gakpo in an offside position was exquisite.

Nevertheless, it is important to bear in mind that Nunez's debut also took place in the Community Shield—during the 2023 victory over Manchester City. The Uruguayan scored and seemed miles ahead of Erling Haaland—but unfortunately, he never replicated that performance again.

There was a hint of Nunez about Ekitike when he missed a header from inside the six-yard box less than a minute into the second half, followed by another opportunity that he sent over from 12 yards. Converting even one of those chances could have secured a win for Liverpool.

"Scoring a goal is always a pleasure, but the triumph of winning a match would have been even better," Slot commented regarding his newly acquired forward.

"Ekitike made a significant impact, though he joined us just two weeks ago during the Asia tour. He undoubtedly had a solid performance."

As the transfer window approaches its final three weeks, the question arises: who will Liverpool be bringing in? One name dominates the discussions - Alexander Isak.

At various moments on Sunday, it appeared as though Liverpool didn't necessarily require another top striker. However, amidst Palace's celebrations in the sunshine, the allure of the Newcastle striker seeking a move became more evident.

"Liverpool is on the lookout for another striker," said former Reds goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to BBC Sport following the match. "We all have our own desires. Every club aspires to have as many forwards as possible.

"Liverpool is interested in Isak, they have made an offer, and he is eager to transfer. Typically, when such conditions exist, a deal tends to materialize. Personally, I would prefer to see a centre-back along with a forward since we all desire more in this sport!"

There's still a long way to go, Liverpool supporters...

Additionally, there were some vulnerabilities in Liverpool's midfield, although those are easier to rectify.

Ryan Gravenberch was unavailable due to his partner giving birth, while Alexis Mac Allister was only fit enough to make a brief appearance from the bench.

Curtis Jones paired with Dominik Szoboszlai in a holding midfield role and successfully connected all 53 of his passes.

"Gravenberch was a significant absence today - he was my standout player from the previous season," Kirkland remarked.

It’s undeniable that Liverpool will feel disheartened by not securing a trophy, especially against a team that finished 12th the previous season and is dealing with multiple injuries, including Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure, who are both expected to be sidelined at the start of the season.

However, Reds fans should not dwell excessively on this. Firstly, only one out of the last 14 season opener victors has gone on to secure the Premier League title - Manchester City in the 2018-19 season. In the era of the Premier League, just eight of the 33 recipients of the Charity or Community Shield have gone on to take home the league trophy.

Moreover, Slot 2.0 is still in the early stages of development - with 38 product launches yet to unfold.