Anfield Watch
·6 octobre 2025
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Yahoo sportsAnfield Watch
·6 octobre 2025
Slot has been trying to. Not with the players he has at right-back but by converting Dominik Szoboszlai into that position.
This is something the Hungarian has transitioned to well - however when he does play as a right-back, the Reds while are much better in their build-up, they lack press in the opposition's final third, which Szoboszlai offered so well from midfield.
So, Slot has a dilemma. He is essentially losing two key players in his system with Szoboszlai playing the right-back role because Alexander-Arnold is gone and the Reds' no.8 is not playing in his accustomed role.
The problem for the Dutchman is that the system he wants to play, the build-up from the back akin to total football, isn't suited to the players he has at his disposal.
Slot needs midfielders who are progressive in nature and who can fill Alexander-Arnold's void - not from right-back - you're never going to get a player of his quality in that position again, he's generational.
Instead, Slot needs the build-up to be happening in the middle of the park. There is Alexis Mac Allister is capable of performing that role to an extent. However, he's not fully fit, and he doesn't have the off the ball qualities in order to make him a 'proper' Slot midfielder.
There is someone who does possess those traits and who would be the perfect midfielder to fix all of the club's problems.
Elliot Anderson is getting a lot of praise at the moment and rightfully so. He's performances have been top-class for Nottingham Forest so far this season.
Anderson is probably one of the best English midfielders in Europe right now alongside Declan Rice and a big factor in that is his ability to play out from deep and get the ball into the right channels.
As per FBref, he has made the passes into the opposition's final third (64) and the most progressive passes (62) in the Premier League so far this season.
Putting him into this team with the physicality that he has could be the perfect solution - especially while he plays alongside Ryan Gravenberch.