Paul Scholes Identifies Liverpool's Tactical Flaw Under Arne Slot
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's current predicament, attributing their decline to a shift towards a possession-based playing style under manager Arne Slot. The Reds, who were Premier League champions last season, now face a fierce battle to secure a Champions League spot for the next campaign.
Anfield's Diminished Fortress Status
Scholes highlighted that Liverpool's home ground, Anfield, has lost its intimidating aura under Slot's tenure. "Anfield was always the toughest place to go," Scholes remarked on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. "Jamie Carragher mentioned it loads of times, you had the fans on top of you and the players on top of you. They've lost that determination to stop the other team. It's just not there any more."
This criticism follows Liverpool's recent 1-1 draw with crisis-hit Tottenham Hotspur, where a late defensive lapse allowed Richarlison to equalise after Dominik Szoboszlai's free-kick had put the hosts ahead. Tottenham, despite losing their previous five league matches, created numerous opportunities and earned a deserved point.
The Impact of Florian Wirtz and Tactical Evolution
Scholes pointed specifically to the summer signing of Florian Wirtz for £116 million as emblematic of Liverpool's altered approach. "Florian Wirtz is a brilliant, brilliant footballer but I think he's made them more into a possession team," Scholes explained. "I think under Klopp and probably under past managers as well at Liverpool, the last thing they're thinking about at home is playing football. They're just thinking about kicking the s*** out of you and steamrolling you and stopping you from playing."
Wirtz was part of a significant summer recruitment drive that also included Alexander Isak, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, and Jeremie Frimpong, as Liverpool sought to evolve their title-winning squad. However, Scholes believes this evolution has come at a cost, with the team struggling when out of possession.
Loss of Klopp's Pressing Identity
The former England midfielder echoed concerns raised by Jamie Carragher during Sky Sports' commentary of the Tottenham match, where Carragher noted the absence of the high-energy pressing that defined Jurgen Klopp's successful Liverpool side. Scholes elaborated: "They won the league, brilliant, they won it quite early last year. Naturally, you are going to drop off a bit but the signs were there towards the end of last year they've lost the determination to stop the opposition. They're still good, they still want to be a nice pretty football team - but you've got to stop the other team."
Liverpool's home record this season underscores these issues, with four draws and three defeats in the Premier League at Anfield, a stark contrast to their former dominance.
Philosophical Clash at Liverpool
Scholes drew parallels to managerial philosophies at other clubs, suggesting Slot's approach may not align with Liverpool's traditional identity. "When we talk about philosophies of managers and football clubs - how many times did we speak about Ruben Amorim coming to United with his own philosophy playing the way he wanted? Man United had their own philosophy, I think it's almost a similar way for Liverpool," he said.
He concluded with a firm verdict: "Liverpool aren't a possession team, they're just not - they're all over you like a Jurgen Klopp team. Now he's (Slot) trying to do it a little bit different and I just don't think it suits Liverpool." This analysis highlights a pivotal moment for Slot as he navigates balancing tactical innovation with the club's historic strengths.
