Due to the inability to publish articles on the xlog blog system for the past half month, and since football match comments are time-sensitive, commenting on previous matches is not very meaningful. It is better to comment on the most recent match, and subsequently, only comment on some important matches based on the situation.
Due to four consecutive losses in the Premier League, Slot was forced to revert to his previous tactics and personnel configuration, with only one new player, Ekitiké, in the starting lineup. This is also because last season's forwards Jota, Diaz, and Nunez are no longer with the team. I have previously mentioned multiple times that I hope left-back Roberson gets more playing time, and he finally replaced Kerkez in the starting lineup for this match. The tactics naturally reverted to last season's, focusing the attack around Salah, with the midfield engaging more in pressing and interceptions to ensure defensive quality. Compared to the previous few teams, Aston Villa focused more on ground attacks, with relatively fewer long passes, but their initial attacks still posed a threat, and fortunately, Rogers' shot hit the post. If they had fallen behind early, the outcome of the match might have been different.
Defensively, the midfield's involvement was relatively better than before, but it still needs to be observed when facing teams strong in long passes and set pieces. The attack has only partially returned; both wingers have average dribbling ability, Gakpo mainly relies on cutting inside, and Salah primarily relies on passing, which opponents have already prepared for. Set-piece attacks still lack threat, and the real threat comes from increased long-range shots. Szoboszlai performed excellently throughout the match, running tirelessly and actively participating in both attack and defense, but unfortunately, he couldn't score from long range. Gravenberch's long-range shot was deflected by an opponent. Salah's first goal came from a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper. Although there was an element of luck, only by increasing pressing and long-range shots can there be more scoring opportunities.
In the 77th minute of the second half, Slot substituted Wirtz for Ekitiké, which was the only substitution for Liverpool in the entire match. This raises concerns about the players' fitness for the next match. Due to injury situations, there are not many players available for rotation, but Chiesa, Kerkez, Gomez, and Endo did not get the chance to come off the bench, indicating Slot's lack of trust in the players. The next match on Tuesday at home against Real Madrid will likely feature the exact same starting lineup. Possible changes could see Kerkez replace Roberson as the starting left-back, or Wirtz getting a starting opportunity. This lineup still has strength, but there may be fitness issues in the second half; if substitutions are not made early, there could be a lack of energy towards the end. Even more concerning is the away match against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, with only four days in between for these players to recover. Given the pressure of the matches and the tight personnel situation, we can only hope Liverpool can get through these two matches, and the situation should improve after the international break when injured players return.