Arne Slot Urged to Scrap Liverpool Experiment for Title-Winning Trio | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Midfield Puzzle Ahead of Chelsea Clash

Liverpool’s return to Stamford Bridge this weekend comes at a decisive moment. Two defeats, against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray, have shifted the mood from early-season optimism to questions about tactical balance and squad rotation. Arne Slot, who guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in his debut campaign, now faces his first real test of crisis management.

Lewis Steele, speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, laid out his thoughts on the current situation and offered a sharp reminder of what worked so well in the recent past.

Midfield Cohesion as a Priority

Steele is clear on what Liverpool should do against Chelsea. “That’s what I would do on Saturday, 100%,” he said when asked if Liverpool should return to last season’s midfield of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. His reasoning comes with evidence from the current campaign. “As I said earlier, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai have been Liverpool’s two most consistent outfielders this season so that’s exactly what I would do against Chelsea.”

The problem has not been talent but consistency. Liverpool’s midfield has been rotated heavily, which Steele believes has had a damaging effect on performance levels. “The constant changing of it is not really working in Liverpool’s favour.”

Slot’s desire to manage workloads is understandable given the club’s return to Champions League football, but the results suggest cohesion has been missing. Against Palace and Galatasaray, Liverpool lacked rhythm in possession and clarity in pressing triggers. Reuniting the core of last season’s triumphant midfield could restore that fluency.

Alternatives and Tactical Tweaks

There remains the question of Mac Allister’s fitness. If he does not make the squad, Steele offered an alternative solution. “Even if Mac Allister isn’t fit, I would be starting Curtis Jones because he can do a good job in that double pivot.” Jones, when fit, has shown he can combine technical assurance with positional discipline, and his return to the XI could help bring balance to a midfield that has looked fragmented in recent weeks.

Steele also highlighted a match that stood out. “I would start how he did against Everton because that first-half was the best half of the season.” That performance was a reminder of Liverpool’s intensity when the midfield pressed as one unit and controlled the game with sharp vertical passes.

Photo: IMAGO

Wirtz and the Frontline Dilemma

Another intriguing possibility is Florian Wirtz, who has been used sparingly since his high-profile summer arrival. “I’d maybe look at starting Florian Wirtz off the left again.” Slot experimented with the German talent in wide roles during pre-season, and while he has been primarily viewed as a creative midfielder, his intelligence off the ball and sharp movements into central areas could give Liverpool’s attack more variety.

The frontline has struggled for consistency, with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah both enduring quieter spells in recent weeks.

Big Decisions for Slot

What Liverpool need most on Saturday is clarity. The temptation to shuffle again will be strong, but as Steele notes, familiarity in midfield has been the foundation of recent success. With the Premier League table already tightening, Slot has little margin for error.

The visit to Chelsea will be judged not only on the result but on whether Liverpool rediscover the collective sharpness that defined their title-winning season. A settled midfield, combined with tactical discipline, might just be the answer.