Liverpool’s attack is starting to take shape as they prepare for the upcoming season. In their recent pre-season match against Arsenal, manager Arne Slot had the opportunity to utilize a natural forward in Diogo Jota, who started alongside Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho. This combination of players provided the team with dynamism and unpredictability in the attacking third.
Carvalho, who scored a brilliant goal in the match, revealed that the coaching staff has been emphasizing the importance of making runs in-behind the defense. This aligns with Liverpool’s desire to play through the thirds and get multiple players into the box. The goal against Arsenal perfectly showcased the effectiveness of this approach, with Harvey Elliott finding Carvalho with a well-placed chip over the defense.
Liverpool’s quick ball movement and ability to draw the opposition into pressing has been a notable feature of their pre-season. This tactic creates space in behind the defense, as demonstrated by Mohamed Salah’s goal against Arsenal. Slot acknowledged this strategy in his post-match assessment, highlighting that Arsenal played into their intended plan by constantly playing balls in behind the last line of defense.
Although Liverpool still have key forwards like Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and Darwin Nunez to join the team, the early signs suggest that Slot’s attacking style will involve systematic wing movements and exploiting space in the final third. This approach is reminiscent of Manchester City’s style of play, which focuses on creating close-range chances. Slot has already expressed his confidence in Nunez fitting well into this playing style, as his strengths align with the idea of running behind the defensive line.
It is important to note that Liverpool’s attackers will need to balance their offensive contributions with defensive work and hold-up play. However, the early insights from players and the team’s pre-season performances indicate that the strengths of Liverpool’s attacking players will naturally come to the fore as they continue to develop and refine their playing style.