Other players takeover other opponents when and if they reach certain zones. We’re not Atalanta under Gasperini or Brighton under De Zerbi. Salah has to do a certain amount of defensive work. It first starts by being part of a pressing attack, then we have to be better organized if we can’t win the ball in that first attempt. We’ve pulled the maximum out of him in all these years by using him in that way. I don’t see his position changing. Whether he’s a bit more on the inside or outside shouldn’t be such a huge issue. It’s also then about how do you both support and protect him with players around his zone. So far, having two very offensive RB’s and energetic midfielders weren’t enough. Our strikers haven’t pressed well, for one it’s a weakness in his game and the other wasn’t fit enough. And then there’s individual form, of course he shouldn’t be an automatic starter all the time if he’s not performing (though against Forest, the only positive going forward were our wide players). It’s the first time in his Liverpool career that he started a season like this and there’s AFCON around the corner…
If we take to heart this comment after the Chelsea game… it becomes obvious that the opposing players have noted a flaw in our defensive duties…
" Have rivals identified Liverpool’s right-hand side as a weakness? After Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge last month, Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella said the Blues had targeted the Reds’ right flank, intimating that because Mohamed Salah is “always ready to attack” there is more space for the opposition to exploit."
I’m sorry but not once did I ever see Diaz or Mane not track the opposition full back anywhere up and down the pitch because he was out of their ‘zone’. This is an excuse being rolled out specifically for Salah because he doesn’t defend.
It’s not possible to be with your man at all times and that was not our tactic under Klopp or Slot. It’s totally contrary to their defending principles, which was/is ball oriented. That doesn’t mean they should leave their full backs (not all full backs even go forward or attack in the same way), but different players press and defend different opponents, depending where the ball is. And also, there’s a covering aspect. And if we’re in a mid-block against some top sides or pinned back, then yeah, we’re back in a compact shape (or should be!). Salah did always defend in his own way, and everyone has a dip in form. The team, the players. It’s true that we’ve lost a few players who were pretty good pressers in the forward line and now we have to revive it with new ones.
What ever I think we need to go much more toward man to man marking. That’s because I feel it gives responsibility to a player. There’s far too many in our squad who don’t take responsibility defensively. Gakpo and Szoboszlai are big issues for me atm. They leave players to walk past them then when they realise the danger start pointing as if it has nothing to do with them, bloody hell grow a pair.
As for Salah it’s always been a problem for us his lack of commitment to defensive phases. It was compounded by Gravenberch not getting over to the right enough to help out. I hate seeing our CBs getting dragged out that far.
I’ve seen Diaz from the left doing more to help out the right side than players who should be there anyway. That’s not zonal that’s abusive.
Szoboszlai’s been one of our rare positives off the ball this season. I cannot fault him, not in that aspect. But of course, it’s impossible to be spot on in all moments. The way we conceded that corner, I was already fuming.
Sadly its more than that. He isn’t the player he was 18 months ago and for 12 months its become apparent that this is a waning of his powers/aging not just a temporary form blip. The sooner he’s phased out the better.
You haven’t been watching imo.
Edit: excluding the times he’s been RB where generally he’s been excellent.
Szoboszlai is one of the big issues off the ball this season, really?
Don’t twist what was written.
Really? 
He has been wanting in some important situations defensively.
Of course they might not have occurred if everyone else wasn’t lined up with the CBs but that’s our tactic.
So no he’s not the fucking major problem but he does do what I pointed out!
Some important situations… like I said, it’s impossible to be spot on in every situation, especially when the team isn’t compact, organized, lacks balance.
But Szobo’s been one of the rare solid and good performers overall this season, especially off the ball. I can’t fault him at that.
I love Mo, we all do, and we all know he has been phenomenal. Nothing but respect and love to him from all fans.
The only room for disagreement is whether or not it’s form, or his level is declining to the point where he should be rotated, and another player brought in with a view to replacement. I’m in the latter camp.
Mo will still have great moments and do some great things, but overall I would say his level is not what we need for a winger any more. If Slot chose to play two up top, then Mo could be in the conversation there, and it might augment his time here, but it seems clear that a new thing has to emerge.
Semenyo is an intriguing prospect if the release clause can be activated at the start of January. Him and Guehi, and hopefully with others coming into better form this season might yet bring something good.
We are soo off topic. 
You were talking in general or about some defensive situations against Forest?
In general except when Szoboszlai was/is RB.
Funny that as he showed at RB he can put an opponent on the ‘wrong’ foot and shepherd them, yet we don’t see that when he’s in midfield. I know it’s more difficult in midfield but Hendo could do it. 
He had some poor reactions at RB also, but it’s understandable since it’s not his position. But in general, I’m happy with Szobo this season. Not something I can say about many other players. He’s a rare shining light with his off the ball work in our general off the ball shambles so far this season.
Whatever you think to stop tracking a player, I presume because it’s not considered your zone, stand watching, then when you realise that your opponent is now in a dangerous position the reaction is to point, whilst everyone else is occupied, should be seen as criminal.
Just watch how many times we finish off in defence with noone covering th central midfield zone. That’s criminal and you see opposition teams waiting for this then sending in a runner.
I know you like to thing you know about tactics and many of your posts are very informative and good. However you miss soo much.
Whether Szoboszlai has in general been good this season he can easily improve certain aspects of his game. Saying that though others need a good kick up the ass in comparison.
Lost at why you are picking on Szob when the worst for me has been Macca the respect and for me it is that inside channel run that is our biggest weakness and will always be an issue if it is the overlapping fullback that makes it as Mo isn’t back in a defensive position and Cody this season is faking it when back.
When pressing we can man mark but when in a low block or mid block mostly it is a zonal system, otherwise it is easy to pull a player out of position. However, whatever zone you are in you still have to track players especially if they move into dangerous areas.
There are far more issues defensively with a man marking system than zonal when you are near your own goal. But whatever system you play each individual player has to be adaptable and be willing to track, cover, commit and be focussed on defending and the biggest thing for me which is what we lack, communication.
Most teams we play are dropping into a 5 4 1 zonal system when deep so all zones are covered pretty easily, we are still 4 3 3 are 4 4 2 so the gapsmare bigger and need players to be switched on which they aren’t.
Our best game this season for being defensively sound is against Madrid and in that game, as Arne said, we dropped into a low block with both the widemen deep and meant that we had our midfielders marking predominantly within the middle part of the pitch rather than being dragged out wide.
Doesn’t matter what system you play it will fail if people aren’t switched on and committed romtheir duties and all systems need communication and that is another downfall of Ibou, i can’t recolect ever seeing him talk to those around him?
BTW please move if this in tge wrong thread
I’m not picking on anyone, just pointing out what I’ve seen.
I am certainly not going to take this discussion into other tactical issues it was just 2 examples I gave in a thread that’s not related.
If it’s not possible to discuss things without whataboutism then it’s not worth the effort.
Turning blind eyes to tactical problems isn’t helping. It’s like when I criticised Szoboszlai against PSG where he just ran around in circles in space. He was demolished even by the commentary team here in France for that. Yet defended to the hilt on here.
Like Slot has his favourites.
I do agree Szob does run around in circles but I think that is that is largely because he has to cover a large area and so many positions.
He is what used to be termed as a box to box midfielder, but who also has to cover Mo’s position and help out his full back.