Liverpool’s Dilemma: Blending New Faces Without Breaking the Flow | OneFootball

By Ben Potter

@benpottersport

The Reds went back to basics against Aston Villa, with the starting eleven being as close to last season as possible. With an improved performance and result, it begs the question; how can Arne Slot integrate his new stars without compromising this setup? 

After a string of disappointing results, with Liverpool losing six out of the last seven matches prior, winning against Aston Villa was hugely important. Not only did the win earn Liverpool three valuable points, they were The Reds’ first Premier League points since the 20th September win against Everton.

The win should also be a huge confidence booster heading into the next few games, with Real Madrid and Man City on the horizon.

Notably though, Liverpool’s starting eleven contained few of the summer signings, with only Hugo Ekitike and Giorgi Mamardashvili featuring, with the latter replacing an injured Alison Becker. Both performed well but why were the others left out?

Whilst Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong were unavailable due to injury, the experienced Andy Robertson was selected at left back, and Alexis MacAllister and Ryan Gravenberch returned to partner Dominik Szoboszlai in the midfield. Although this left no room for Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, it did bring an air of familiarity to the team and, despite not being a perfect performance, domestically it was Liverpool’s best of the season.

Arne Slot said, “I think the team performance is what made the difference today. Everyone was really fighting to get that win over the line, throwing themselves in front of shots, sprinting back when needed, being ready for a high press.”

The cohesion in the team is likely due to the familiar faces returning, giving all the players a better understanding of who they are playing with. Slot returned as close as he could to what worked so effectively during the title winning season.

But how can new signings like Wirtz, Kerkez, and eventually Isak and Frimpong be integrated into the side without breaking the flow? With Madrid and City in the next week too, there is no time for experimentation.

In an ideal world, the results keep coming and confidence is rebuilt, allowing for there to be less pressure on the new lads to perform. But in reality, that would be a luxury. Realistically, the best plan moving forwards is a gradual introduction of each player, giving them time and a chance to learn the system and how to play with the players around them. For now, Slot may be better resisting the urge to throw in his all of his new recruits despite their exciting ability and potential.

The win over Villa might not solve everything, but it showed that Slot has a solid foundation to build on despite losing key players in the summer. The key now is timing. Introducing change without unsettling the chemistry that made Liverpool competitive again. The next few fixtures will tell what his plans are going forward and if he can find the right blend within the team.