Liverpool: the high line under Slot and the No. 6 question
Two transfer windows have rebuilt the spine. The desk tracks the Van Dijk-Slot build-up shape and the Salah wide-Final-Third role.
Last-five form: W W W L W
Form W W W L W across the last five. The team's xG per match across the last ten is 2.2 — in the league's top three. Goals conceded per match: 0.7. Press-success rate in the final third: 34%. Set-piece goals have powered 22% of the team's goals across the season.
Squad watch
The build-up shape switches by opposition. Against low blocks the team uses an inverted full-back to create a 3v2 in the middle third. Alexis Mac Allister's role as a free No. 8 has been the structural change of the season. Wide carries are the chief creation source; the wide-Final-Third involvement has climbed to 41% of total touches in the attacking third.
The defensive shape is a back-four high line by default. The press cue is the opposition's wide centre-back first touch; the rest-defence sits 35 yards from goal. Alisson has a save rate of 78% — among the league leaders — and his distribution-launch success has cut the team's defensive transition losses by a quarter.
Next three fixtures
vs Manchester City (away), vs Tottenham Hotspur (away), vs Chelsea (home).
Depth chart
GK: Alisson. Back four: Alexander-Arnold-Konaté-Van Dijk-Robertson. Midfield: Mac Allister-Gravenberch-Jones. Front three: Salah-Núñez-Diaz. Bench: Gakpo, Elliott, Endo.
Editor's note
The ceiling is when the press wins the ball inside 8 seconds and the wide carries split the back line. The floor is when the opposing No. 6 sits in the half-space and the wide centre-back has no clean press cue. The trade window is typically used on a depth right-back or an impact No. 9; the title run will be decided in transition, not possession.
