Due to the xlog blogging system being unavailable for the past two weeks, and given the time-sensitive nature of football match commentary, revisiting earlier games holds little value. Therefore, I will focus on the most recent match and, moving forward, only comment on significant fixtures as circumstances warrant.
Following four consecutive Premier League losses, Klopp was compelled to revert to previous tactics and personnel. Only one new starter, Ekitiké, featured—a necessity given the departures of last season's center forwards Jota, Díaz, and Núñez. As I've repeatedly advocated, left-back Robertson finally earned a starting spot over Kelleher. The approach naturally reverted to last season's model, centering attacks around Salah while midfielders focused more on pressing and interceptions to bolster defensive solidity. Compared to recent opponents, Aston Villa emphasized ground-based attacks with fewer long balls, yet their opening assaults still posed threats—fortunately, Rogers' shot struck the post. Had Liverpool fallen behind early, the outcome might have been different.
Defensively, the midfield commitment showed improvement over recent matches, though their resilience against teams specializing in long balls and set pieces remains to be seen. Offensively, only partial recovery was evident: both wingers lacked breakthrough ability, with Gakpo relying primarily on cutting inside and Salah on passing—tactics opponents had long anticipated. Set-piece attacks remained ineffective, while the increased long-range shots posed genuine threat. Szoboszlai delivered an outstanding performance, covering the field tirelessly and contributing actively in both attack and defense, though his long-range effort failed to find the net. Gravenberch's shot was deflected by an opponent. Salah's opening goal stemmed from a goalkeeper error. While luck played a part, only by intensifying pressing and increasing long-range attempts can more scoring opportunities be created.
In the 77th minute of the second half, Slot finally substituted Ekitiké for Wirtz—Liverpool's sole substitution of the match. This raises serious concerns about player fitness for the next fixture. With limited rotation options due to injuries, Chiesa, Kerkez, Gomez, and Endo all remained unused substitutes, revealing Slot's lack of confidence in these players. The starting lineup for Tuesday's home match against Real Madrid is likely to remain unchanged. Possible alterations could see Kerkez replace Robertson at left-back or Wirtz earn a starting spot. This lineup possesses considerable strength, but stamina in the second half is likely to be an issue. Without early substitutions, they may run out of steam. Even more concerning is the Premier League away fixture against Manchester City on Sunday, with only four days' rest in between. Given the pressure of matches and the tight squad depth, one can only hope Liverpool can endure these two games. The situation should improve after the international break when injured players return.