Initially, Liverpool appeared to struggle with the system and once again their defensive frailties were exposed as they were cut open by a sweeping Eintracht Frankfurt counter for the opener.<\/p>\n
Liverpool have now conceded 18 goals in 13 games this season – compared to seven at the same stage last term – while Frankfurt’s goal meant the Reds have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight games.<\/p>\n
But they certainly grew into the game and the system and in the second half their high-pressing football was particularly impressive.<\/p>\n
Crucially, they also took their chances this time with five different players scoring.<\/p>\n
“I think this might be a long-term system for Slot, but time will tell on that,” former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
He added: “There is always going to be little flaws in a new system, it’s not going to be flawless straight away.<\/p>\n
“Away from home as well, it is difficult to adapt at the start of a game, but they soon took control and were comfortable in the way they played. <\/p>\n
“I actually thought Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones were brilliant in the game, on the ball and when Liverpool came forward, but it is just about understanding your defensive responsibilities as well.<\/p>\n
“They learnt as the game went on. Sometimes you get in old habits where you go and press, or leave your position and think you can make a run, but you don’t have to because that is not your job for the night… and sometimes it is just a case of being told again that that’s your position, and hold where you are.”<\/p>\n
While the Isak-Ekitike partnership lasted just 45 minutes, some of those watching are enthused by the prospect of them playing more games together.<\/p>\n
“I like it,” former Manchester United striker Andy Cole told BBC Sport. “They are both of a good age, bought for the future.<\/p>\n
“I can see them playing as a two, because if they do they it will ultimately cause chaos. They both have the pace, ability and are prepared to take players on.”<\/p>\n
Ekitike’s goal against Frankfurt was his sixth for the Reds, with the striker appearing to have settled best of all Liverpool’s summer signings.<\/p>\n
“I thought Ekitike was the best player,” former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves said on TNT Sports. <\/p>\n
“He has to be a guaranteed starter now. He is everywhere now. He is a pure player, a beautiful football player.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Initially, Liverpool appeared to struggle with the system and once again their defensive frailties were exposed as they…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":233487,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[440],"tags":[49,48,561,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-233486","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-soccer","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233486"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233486\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/233487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}