We bought two new full backs, one new centre back, and narrowly missed out on a second.
That’s effectively a new back four that they were trying to land. It’s still a work in process, but it’s not for want of trying.
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I posted this post match but may be better here.
We still seem a bit between styles. When Slot inherited the team he wanted to move from full throttle to more control. It partially worked but a lot of games at the end of the season we started with no control and only got results as we played catch up, full throttle second half.
This season feels the same. We are failing to control and only get on top when we need to push on for goals to win or draw. Both leave us defensively open.
So I really see this as a test of Slot. I am not for one second belittling his first season but he is now trying to impose more of his style, with more of his players.
It’s a real test of shaping something.
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Maybe Slot could/should take a step back and revert to familiar faces, reduce the number of changes made to the starting XI until there’s a semblance of a working team. We were all concerned that the team got a lot of new players at the same time and performances have been telling.
Mac Allister and Salah are terribly off form, while Konate isn’t far behind. However, Mac Allister is the only one reported to be carrying/recovering from an injury, though, so I wouldn’t have problems with seeing him benched and Slot going with the midfield of Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Wirtz in the meantime. Not sure what the injury is there but given the amount of literal kicking he’s received over the last two years, it’s no wonder.
It’s not a problem that has a simple solution but the familiarity that Bradley and rested Robertson offer for league matches and the combination of energy and technical ability of Szoboszlai and Gravenberch might form the basis that the team needs to finally start ticking. Basically, just put Wirtz and one of Isak or Ekitike in the eleven and work to their strengths.
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Slot’s style when he came in was different though, not sure why that boring passing around has gone, it was never there under Klopp so it was a distinct change.
Like he reacted to the negative comments about being boring. Everton’s press was non-existent, Newcastle looked finished and we seemed to almost gift these teams ways back in. We were too far open against Bournemouth when 2 up.
I do think it’s part personal as we have looked good at times, so who really knows.
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Wasn’t the first time he tried that set up away against City last year where we had a relatively comfortable 2-0 win?
If I remember correctly, he switched to 4-2-2-2 in the second half against Newcastle. The one where we lost a two-goal advantage against 10 men.
You are right though about the City game.
Superfically, but in practice quite different given the identity of the 2 in the front 2 and how they were playing
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Agree with this. For the next few games I’d like him to pick the same team. Should include Wirtz to let him get used to combinations. Have 5 subs so can always change things around but at least have an hour of a settled team
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The next 5 PL matches until the November IB are against Chelsea, United, Brentford, Villa and Manchester C. with Frankfurt and Real in-between.
Will be interesting to see how Slot will manage this.
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Interesting use of the word interesting.
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Doom n gloom…that’s what it feels like…we’re spiralling into free fall…and it’s frightening me…only me take on the last few weeks…
Maybe he did only win it because he inherited Klopp’s team…
What concerns me is we should have had a reaction, you see from VVD’s comments they knew how bad Saturday was but they just went meh.
This is looking seriously crap right now.
I blame this video and this video alone for what’s happening.
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It looks like Slot is going to have a little bit of hardship, relatively speaking, while this new side fully emerges. He was brilliant winning the league first time. As he builds a new side it remains to be seen if we will take a step back before taking two steps forward.
In most endeavors progress isn’t linear, up and to the right. So we can be measured and patient as a fan base, at least to a point.
The moves we have made - and there’s a bit more to go, in central defence, a Salah replacement, and maybe a defensive midfielder - are to set us up for the next cycle.
If Slot can get us clicking sooner rather than later, anything is still possible this season.
It seems to me that the key to winning the biggest prizes this season will be to stay in touch at the top while we work our way to top form.
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Struggling to see what Slot and his staff worked on during the preseason.
We started the season like we finished the last: Winning through individual quality, being open at the back and performing poorly for large periods. It has only got worse.
We look completely clueless as to how we are supposed to attack and defend and that’s stemming from the manager.
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It is very worrying, especially since we’ve brought in a number of new players who aren’t performing at all. By now, we should be seeing some sort of cohesion but unfortunately, we are still very disjointed. Our defending is so uncertain at times, our attack and set-pieces are weak. What happened to those days when players weren’t afraid to test the GK and shoot from outside the box?
Wirtz - drop to bench for Chiesa
Konate - drop to bench for Gomez
Kerkez - drop to bench for Robbo
Didn’t like the decision last night, in the period when our pressing from the front is bananas, we spend a player like Szobo in defence.
If we don’t have enough trust in our other RB options on the night against Galatasaray, then I don’t know. Are Baris and Jakobs worth doubling up on that side? It’s not really Messi and Alves, is it?
Also, the period when Salah will be away is in football metric of time, a long time ahead. We have games to win and points to pick up. It was the matchday 2 last night, not one of those games near the end when we’ve qualified and we can play a bit.
Frimpong knows how to play RW, we don’t have to test it long in advance. Plus, who knows what will the situation be like when we get there. Multiple players can do that job.
Focus on the NOW and the best decisions to win the next game.
It’s no panic time, but we’re soon arriving to the point when Slot found the winning combination last season with Diaz up top. Of course, then we had more stability in other aspects. So it’s not only selection decisions, but together with it, we have to raise a few key phases: pressing from the front, defensive transition and set-pieces.
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Let’s not forget what a horrendous preseason it was And just remain patient.
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Well said, we do forget, too easily 
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It feels like a commentator’s curse or reporter’s jinx…Whenever they asked our manager or coach about LFC is having a full squad, immediately the next match or practice session, we would go into an injury crisis: 2 years ago with Kloppo, 2 weeks ago with Slot. I think from this point onwards, our managers/coaches will need to stop entertaining such question!
(Spit at the commentators and reporters to reverse their curses/jinx!) 
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