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Analysis: Liverpool’s Defensive Frailties Exposed in Brentford Defeat
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has identified a shift in tactical approach from opposing teams as a contributing factor to the Premier League champions’ struggles this season.
However, following a dismal performance against Brentford, attention must be directed toward internal issues.
The 3-2 scoreline belies Brentford’s dominance, who outplayed Liverpool in nearly every facet of the game. Any point salvaged by the Reds would have been an undeserved outcome.
Slot has cited the increased prevalence of long balls and deep defensive lines as reasons for his team’s decline, which culminated in a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat.
Beyond acknowledging this potential vulnerability, the Dutch manager must now address the alarming performances of his own players, who appeared susceptible, disorganized, and thoroughly off-form.
In another disappointing showing, the team offered little to inspire as fans made their way home from a cold night in West London.
Liverpool have now lost as many Premier League games this season as they did during their entire title-winning campaign, joining Leicester (2016-17), their own 2020-21 squad, and Manchester City (last season) as the only reigning champions to lose four straight.
This marks the first time since February 2021 that Liverpool has suffered four consecutive league losses, underscoring the urgency for Slot to find solutions within his squad rather than seeking external factors.
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Brentford Secure Victory as Liverpool Endure Fourth Straight League Loss
If Slot was aware of opponents attempting to exploit Liverpool’s weaknesses, he shouldn’t have been surprised when Michael Kayode’s long throw-in exposed their defensive vulnerabilities just five minutes into the match, leading to Dango Ouatarra’s goal from Kristoffer Ajer’s flick-on.
Liverpool was simply outplayed, falling victim to set-pieces and counter-attacks – a recurring theme this season.
While Brentford’s impressive performance under Keith Andrews deserves recognition, the decline in standards at Anfield has been alarming.
The Bees effortlessly breached Liverpool’s lines, with Mikkel Damsgaard’s excellent through-ball setting up Kevin Schade for a well-taken second goal.
Liverpool faced concerns across the board, from established players to expensive new signings who failed to meet expectations.
Virgil van Dijk’s performance cannot be ignored, and his partnership with the struggling £40m Milos Kerkez on the left side of defense appeared uneasy, with the captain exchanging puzzled looks with the Hungarian in the first half.
It was Van Dijk who fouled Outarra on the edge of the penalty area, conceding the penalty from which Igor Thiago effectively secured Brentford’s victory.
The Dutchman has been a central figure in a defense that has looked shaky all season.
It was another disappointing night for Liverpool’s £116m signing Florian Wirtz, who was replaced by defender Joe Gomez late in the game.
Since the start of May, Liverpool has conceded 2+ goals in more Premier League games than any other side with nine, while they have conceded 14 goals in their nine league games this season. In the previous campaign they did not concede their 14th goal until their 16th game.
Liverpool’s midfield was largely absent, and the hope that £116m Florian Wirtz had sparked into life with an improved performance in the 5-1 Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt was quickly extinguished.
The German missed a clear chance in the first half and was replaced by a defender, Joe Gomez, with seven minutes remaining and Brentford leading 3-1.
Slot’s decision to replace Wirtz spoke volumes about the summer signing’s influence. The Brentford supporters made their feelings clear as he departed, chanting “what a waste of money”.
Mohamed Salah showed a glimpse of his former brilliance to give Liverpool undeserved hope in a frantic finale, but it was otherwise another poor performance from one of the club’s all-time greats, who appears to be lacking confidence and inspiration.
It was also a night of limited reward for striker Hugo Ekitike, the one summer arrival who has shown promise, as he received little service in the absence of the injured £125m Alexander Isak and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
Slot acknowledged the performance fell short, telling BBC’s Match of the Day: “It was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance as well.”
“Conceding three goals is far too much if you want to win a game of football. First one was a set-piece, second is a counter-attack which is one of the things Brentford are really good at.”
“What I have to do is look at what we do wrong and what we do right. I have a clear idea of where we have to improve, but that hasn’t been the case in other games. We didn’t do the basics right.”
Slot will have to find the answers, and quickly.
Liverpool’s next four games are against Crystal Palace at Anfield in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, followed by another home league game against Aston Villa. Real Madrid then visits Anfield in the Champions League, before a trip to Manchester City – where Erling Haaland will undoubtedly be eager to face a defense as vulnerable as this.
Liverpool possesses a team with quality, but currently lacks cohesion, with Wirtz still adapting to the team. This offers encouragement to any ambitious opponent. The near-£450m spent in the summer has yet to translate into tangible improvement or progress.
At the moment, given their struggles, Liverpool’s much-discussed blip appears to be getting that victory at Eintracht Frankfurt – unthinkable when you recall their smooth progress last season and finishing 10 points clear in top spot.
For Slot and Liverpool, this was a sobering experience, and further disappointment could follow if Arsenal defeats Crystal Palace on Sunday, increasing the gap between the two teams to seven points.
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Slot: Liverpool Couldn’t Get the Basics Right
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