Assessing Liverpool’s €488m Attack: Goal-Scoring Woes Under Arne Slot

Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest

Having invested an astonishing €482.9 million on new players this summer, Liverpool aimed to create one of the most formidable attacking lineups in the world. However, it is surprising that under coach Arne Slot, their Premier League title defense has gotten off to such a rocky start, featuring six wins and six losses from their first 12 games, putting them at risk of falling into the lower half of the standings.

A disappointing 3-0 defeat at home against Nottingham Forest, who moved out of the relegation zone with this win, highlighted significant issues within the squad. Goals from Murillo, Nicolò Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White secured a deserved victory for Sean Dyche’s team at Anfield, marking Liverpool’s sixth loss in seven league matches. If Arsenal win their match against Tottenham, Liverpool could find themselves 11 points adrift, jeopardizing their hopes of retaining the title. What is going wrong?

High Expectations on the Frontline

In the match against Nottingham Forest, five of Liverpool’s six forwards started: Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitiké, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and Federico Chiesa. The only absentee was Florian Wirtz due to injury, yet this group failed to score against one of the league’s weakest defenses. Isak, a €145m acquisition from Newcastle United, has netted just once in the league since joining Liverpool. While injuries have impacted his early tenure at Anfield, he was fit enough to start against Forest but showed very little before being substituted in the second half.

Ekitiké, who was brought on as a substitute, struggled to make a mark, and Gakpo was unusually subdued on the left flank. Only Salah had multiple clear chances but was unable to convert, while Chiesa missed a close-range opportunity when the score was 2-0. Last season, Liverpool’s defense was a concern, but their attack often compensated, scoring 86 goals across 38 games—averaging 2.3 per match. This season, however, they have managed just 18 goals in 12 games, averaging 1.6, while shipping 20 goals—1.7 per game—contrasting sharply with last season’s average of 1.1 goals conceded. The mounting pressure on the forwards, particularly Isak and Ekitiké, may be undermining their confidence with each missed opportunity.

A Shift in Power and Formation

While Slot favored a 4-2-3-1 formation during his time at Feyenoord, he appears to be trying to imprint his style on Liverpool after last season’s league triumph, even though Jurgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 might be better suited to the squad. The inclusion of Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones in the No. 10 position suggests a tactical shift, but this has left Liverpool vulnerable defensively, causing their attacking players to clash over the ball.

Salah has long been the key player for Liverpool, amassing over 250 goals for the club across all competitions. Adapting to share that responsibility with Isak, Ekitiké, Wirtz, Gakpo, and Chiesa is a new challenge for him—especially after being benched in a Champions League match, a clear indication that he is no longer an automatic starter. The tactical deployment of Wirtz in a central role has not been effective as it differs from his preferred position at Bayer Leverkusen. Additionally, the midfield duo of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch lacks stability without another player, such as Szoboszlai or Jones, to reinforce their presence.

Concerns at Full-Back

The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold is a significant issue for Liverpool, as his ability to deliver precise passes from the back was vital to their attacking play, often sending the ball into channels for Salah. After his transfer to Real Madrid, Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong, but he has struggled to secure a starting spot under Slot, who has instead opted for Connor Bradley or Dominik Szoboszlai as improvised full-backs.

The problem with utilizing Szoboszlai in this capacity is that it removes him from attacking positions in the final third, where he made impressive contributions last season—13 goal involvements in 2024/25. This season, his contributions have been minimal, with only one goal and one assist in 12 outings, underscoring his lack of influence when Liverpool needs him the most. With Bradley sidelined due to injury, many expect Frimpong to reclaim his spot, but as an attacking wing-back, he is susceptible to being caught out of position if he ventures too far up the pitch. Nottingham Forest exploited this weakness on the counter, with Milos Kerkez also pushing high up the field, creating challenges for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate throughout the match.