{"id":89109,"date":"2025-08-10T21:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T21:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=89109"},"modified":"2025-08-10T21:45:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T21:45:00","slug":"liverpool-2-0-launched-at-wembley-and-slot-has-bugs-to-fix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=89109","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool 2.0 launched at Wembley \u2013 and Slot has bugs to fix"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>7 Minute, 14 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
\n

Arne Slot\u2019s Liverpool 2.0 got their grand unveiling at Wembley on Sunday, and the reviews are in. Occasionally brilliant, occasionally shambolic, with improvements needed.<\/p>\n

Four of Liverpool\u2019s summer signings made their first competitive starts for the club in the Community Shield,\u00a0which they lost on penalties to Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n

Record \u00a3116m acquisition Florian Wirtz started in attacking midfield, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez formed a new-look full-back pairing, while Hugo Ekitike led the line as the central striker.<\/p>\n

The only new face not in the starting XI was goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was on the bench as Alisson kept his place.<\/p>\n

And there were some clear signs the revamp may lead to spectacular results. The game finished 2-2, with the goals coming through Ekitike and Frimpong. It is the first time Liverpool have had two players score on their competitive debuts since August 2006, when Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez\u00a0netted against Maccabi Haifa.<\/p>\n

But Liverpool 2.0 have bugs. They twice had leads pegged back, were often sloppy in defence, and were on the ropes towards the end.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have four new players \u2013 we need time to adapt,\u201d Slot said at his post-match media conference at Wembley.<\/p>\n

In this regard, the Community Shield was not an isolated incident. In Monday\u2019s 3-2 friendly win against Athletic Bilbao, Liverpool conceded twice from set-pieces.<\/p>\n

Palace arguably had only two big chances in this game \u2013 Jean-Philippe Mateta\u2019s 13th-minute penalty and Ismaila Sarr bursting through with 12 minutes to go. They scored both.<\/p>\n

As Slot pithily said: \u201cWe don\u2019t concede chances, but we concede goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

New full-backs, new style of play?<\/h2>\n
Image caption,Jeremie Frimpong scored Liverpool\u2019s second goal after 21 minutes at Wembley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s start at the back. For years, especially under Jurgen Klopp, one of Liverpool\u2019s defining traits was the attacking impetus brought by full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.<\/p>\n

Frimpong and Kerkez are, in many ways, in a similar mould \u2013 much more attacking than traditional full-backs.<\/p>\n

But, while Kerkez is nearly identical to Robertson in how he plays, Frimpong stays far wider than his predecessor. Don\u2019t expect many Alexander-Arnold-like adventures into central midfield \u2013 but do expect some good, old-fashioned overlapping runs.<\/p>\n

This attacking sense led directly to Liverpool\u2019s second goal when Frimpong jinked into the area and chipped Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Whether he meant to score or not, the dash into the box was a spectacular and impudent piece of skill. <\/p>\n

Skip image gallery<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \"TheThis graphic shows the average positions of Liverpool\u2019s starting XI against Crystal Palace at Wembley, with Frimpong in particular clearly hugging the right touchline to provide added width, almost like a winger at times<\/li>\n
  2. \"Liverpool'sThis graphic shows Liverpool\u2019s average positions against Tottenham in April \u2013 the last match Alexander-Arnold and Robertson started together. Alexander-Arnold, unlike Frimpong, played much more narrowly. More on the rest of the team shortly\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    1 of 2Previous imageNext imageSlide\u00a01 of 2,\u00a0The average positions of Liverpool\u2019s starting XI against Crystal Palace at Wembley.\u00a0This graphic shows the average positions of Liverpool\u2019s starting XI against Crystal Palace at Wembley, with Frimpong in particular clearly hugging the right touchline to provide added width, almost like a winger at times<\/p>\n

    End of image gallery<\/p>\n

    However, in defence, issues remain. Liverpool will have hoped that Frimpong would bring the defensive solidity they sometimes lacked with Alexander-Arnold, but the Dutchman played Sarr onside for the second equaliser.<\/p>\n

    And it was not only at full-back where Liverpool looked defensively suspect. They were opened too easily before the first-half penalty \u2013 Mateta was set free by a through ball, leading to the attack which ended in Virgil van Dijk fouling Sarr.<\/p>\n

    There was no recognised centre-back on Liverpool\u2019s bench. Jarell Quansah has departed for Bayer Leverkusen, and Joe Gomez \u201chas a minor injury\u201d.<\/p>\n

    Slot expects him to be back soon, but Liverpool needs to sign at least one more central defender before the transfer deadline on 1 September.<\/p>\n

    The one they would like to sign captained the opposition at Wembley. Marc Guehi \u2013\u00a0subject of transfer speculation\u00a0as he enters the last year of his contract \u2013 once again laid everything on the line for Palace before being subbed in the dying seconds because of cramp.<\/p>\n

    Is \u2018dominant\u2019 Wirtz missing piece?<\/h2>\n

    Moving into midfield, Wirtz was the outstanding Liverpool player at Wembley. Slot has clearly tweaked the system to suit their record signing, and the early signs are positive.<\/p>\n

    Wirtz has been given a role freer and further forward than Liverpool had previously from an attacking midfielder \u2013 they had nobody to do that role last season.<\/p>\n

    He almost formed a strike partnership with Ekitike at times, so close together were they. Indeed by the time he was substituted, Wirtz was playing as a false nine with Ekitike already taken off.<\/p>\n

    This freedom allowed the German to float wide left after four minutes, to pick up the ball and play in Ekitike for the opener.<\/p>\n

    There were 22 passes in the build-up to Liverpool\u2019s first goal, a move that lasted 66 seconds and involved nine players.<\/p>\n

    Until being taken off in the 84th minute, Wirtz looked perfectly balanced, always in control, never flustered. His influence all over the pitch for Liverpool is already clear.<\/p>\n

    At the point of his substitution, Wirtz led Liverpool in passes and entries in the final third, crosses and touches in the Palace box. He had the third most touches in total. Everything went through him.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt has been a really impressive performance for Wirtz,\u201d former Palace striker Glenn Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live. \u201cVery dominant.<\/p>\n

    \u201cHe was tiring by the end of it, and that is something he will need to get used to. But he is looking like a very good signing.\u201d<\/p>\n

    This does raise a question about Mohamed Salah\u2019s role in the team. The Egyptian has now not scored in eight Wembley appearances, had only one shot on target and in the shootout blazed his penalty over. But that is a question for another article. <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \"FlorianThis graphic showing Wirtz\u2019s range of passing illustrates just how influential he was \u2013 from just about everywhere across Palace\u2019s half of the pitch<\/li>\n
    2. \"FlorianBut this heat map graphic also shows he naturally gravitated towards the left, linking up with Ekitike and Kerkez<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      1 of 2Previous imageNext imageSlide\u00a01 of 2,\u00a0Florian Wirtz\u2019s passing map,\u00a0This graphic showing Wirtz\u2019s range of passing illustrates just how influential he was \u2013 from just about everywhere across Palace\u2019s half of the pitch<\/p>\n

      End of image gallery<\/p>\n

      How much of a difference did Ekitike make?<\/h2>\n

      In front of Wirtz, Ekitike has the makings of a genuine, out-and-out centre forward Liverpool simply did not have before because of Darwin Nunez\u2019s shortcomings.<\/p>\n

      His goal was well taken, and his cross with the outside of his boot in the first half that found Cody Gakpo in an offside position was sumptuous.<\/p>\n

      But one should remember that Nunez\u2019s debut also came in the Community Shield \u2013 the 2023 win over Manchester City. The Uruguayan scored, looked streets ahead of Erling Haaland, and never hit those heights again.<\/p>\n

      And there was a touch of Nunez about Ekitike spurning a header inside the six-yard box less than a minute into the second half, and another chance he blazed over from 12 yards. Take one of those, and Liverpool win.<\/p>\n

      Ekitike scored the quickest goal in a Community Shield since Gary McAllister for Liverpool versus Manchester United in 2001<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      \u201cAlways nice to score a goal, but it would have been even nicer to win a game,\u201d Slot said of his new frontman.<\/p>\n

      \u201cEkitike had a good impact, but he came two weeks ago during the Asia tour. But he had a good game for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

      So, who will Liverpool add in the final three weeks of the transfer window? One name is on everyone\u2019s lips \u2013 Alexander Isak.<\/p>\n

      At times on Sunday, it looked as if the last thing Liverpool needed was another first-choice striker. But as Palace celebrated in the sun, the appeal of the wantaway Newcastle forward became clearer.<\/p>\n

      \u201cLiverpool want another striker,\u201d former Reds goalkeeper Chris Kirkland told BBC Sport after the game. \u201cWe\u2019re all greedy. Every team wants as many strikers as they can.<\/p>\n

      \u201cLiverpool want Isak, they have bid for him, and he wants to go. Normally, when that is the case, a deal gets done. I\u2019d want a centre-back and a forward because we are all greedy in this world!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      \n \n
      \n \n \"Happy\"\n <\/a>\n
      \n Happy <\/div>\n
      \n 0<\/span>\n \n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
      \n \n \"Sad\"\n <\/a>\n
      \n Sad <\/div>\n
      \n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
      \n \n \"Excited\"\n <\/a>\n
      \n Excited <\/div>\n
      \n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
      \n \n \"Sleepy\"\n <\/a>\n
      \n Sleepy <\/div>\n
      \n 0<\/span>\n \n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
      \n \n \"Angry\"\n <\/a>\n
      Angry<\/div>\n
      \n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
      \n \n \"Surprise\"\n <\/a>\n
      Surprise<\/div>\n
      \n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
      \"LiverpoolArne Slot’s Liverpool 2.0 got their grand unveiling at Wembley on Sunday and the reviews are in. Occasionally brilliant, occasionally shambolic, with improvements needed.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":89110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6260,6241,137,1288,10,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-shield","category-crystal-palace","category-football","category-liverpool","category-politics","category-popular"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=89109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89109\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/89110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=89109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=89109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=89109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}