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<p>Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest</p>
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<img alt="Why is Liverpool's €488m attack struggling for goals under Arne Slot?" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/liverpool-forest-1763837352-183389.jpg" title="Why is Liverpool's €488m attack struggling for goals under Arne Slot?">
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<p><span>©IMAGO</span></p>
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<p>This summer, Liverpool invested an eye-watering €482.9 million in new players, significantly bolstering what many considered to be one of the most formidable attacking lineups around. However, with only six wins and six defeats in their first 12 matches, Arne Slot must be surprised by their rocky start to the Premier League season, leaving the team vulnerable to slipping into the lower half of the table.</p>
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<p>Club Comparison</p>
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<p>Premier League</p>
<p>Premier League</p>
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<p>€1.15bn</p>
<p>Market Value</p>
<p>€644.70m</p>
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<p>First Tier</p>
<p>League Level</p>
<p>First Tier</p>
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<p>€482.90m</p>
<p>Expenditures 25/26</p>
<p>€236.90m</p>
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<p>Arne Slot</p>
<p>Managers</p>
<p>Sean Dyche</p>
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<p><span>Full Club Comparison</span></p>
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<p>A disheartening 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, who moved out of the relegation zone with this win, emphasized the major concerns around the team. Goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White secured a deserved victory for Sean Dyche’s squad at Anfield, marking Liverpool’s sixth loss in seven league matches. If Arsenal triumph over Tottenham tomorrow, Liverpool could find themselves 11 points off the pace, severely curtailing their hopes of defending the title. So, what’s gone wrong?</p>
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<img alt="Liverpool's run of defeats" height="629" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/liverpool-defeats-1763837069-183388.png?lm=1763837088" title="Liverpool's run of defeats" width="503">
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<h2>High Expectations on the Frontline</h2>
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<p>Five members of Liverpool's attacking lineup started against Nottingham Forest: Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and Federico Chiesa. The only absentee was Florian Wirtz due to injury, yet the group failed to score against one of the league's leakiest defenses. Isak, a €145 million acquisition from Newcastle United, has netted just once in the league since his transfer to Liverpool. Though injuries impacted his early time at Anfield, he was healthy enough to start against Forest, but had minimal impact before being substituted.</p>
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<p>Ekitike came off the bench but failed to make a significant impact, while Gakpo had an unusually quiet game on the left flank. Salah, despite having several clear chances, could not find the net, and Chiesa missed a close-range opportunity when the score was still 2-0. While Liverpool’s defensive issues were evident last season, their attacking prowess often compensated. Last season, they scored 86 goals in 38 matches, averaging 2.3 per game. In contrast, this season they have managed only 18 goals in 12 matches, averaging 1.6. Additionally, their defense has conceded 20 goals, averaging 1.7 per match, compared to 41 goals (1.1 per game) last season. The mounting pressure on the forwards, especially Isak and Ekitike, may be affecting their confidence amid this scoring drought.</p>
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<img alt="Liverpool's lack of goals" height="629" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/liverpool-attack-goals-1763836919-183387.png?lm=1763836967" title="Liverpool's lack of goals" width="503">
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<h2>A Shift in Power and Formation</h2>
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<p>At Feyenoord, Slot preferred a 4-2-3-1 formation, and while many argue that Klopp's traditional 4-3-3 suited the players, Slot seems determined to put his own stamp on the squad following last season's league win. The inclusion of Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones in the No. 10 role indicates his desire to implement his vision, though it has left Liverpool prone to defensive vulnerabilities and has generated clashes among their attacking players vying for possession.</p>
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<p>Salah, who has over 250 goals for Liverpool, is now sharing that limelight with Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz, Gakpo, and Chiesa, a dynamic shift for the Egyptian star. Slot has demonstrated that Salah is no longer indispensable, having benched him in a Champions League match. Tactically, Wirtz has struggled in his central role, contrasting with his inside No. 10 position at Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, the midfield partnership of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch seems less secure without a third midfielder, like Szoboszlai or Jones.</p>
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<h2>Full-Back Dilemma</h2>
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<p>The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold is a major setback for any team, particularly Liverpool. The right-back was instrumental in creating opportunities from the back, delivering precise passes into the channels for Salah to chase. After moving to Real Madrid, Liverpool acquired Jeremie Frimpong, but the Dutch international has struggled to secure a starting role under Slot. Instead, Slot has opted for Connor Bradley when fit or even used Dominik Szoboszlai as an improvised full-back.</p>
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<p>This tactical choice restricts Szoboszlai's effectiveness in the attacking zone, where he contributed 13 goals last season. So far this season, he has recorded just one goal and one assist in 12 appearances, showcasing his diminished impact in the final third where Liverpool desperately needs him. With Bradley currently sidelined, many expect Frimpong to step back in—yet the attacking wing-back's tendency to push forward too much can leave the defense exposed. Nottingham Forest exploited this on the counter, utilizing Milos Kerkez high up the pitch, leading to challenges for defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate all match long.</p>
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