Arne Slot has FOUND the key to fixing Liverpool's incohesive attack

Liverpool's attacking unit feels which lost at the moment, like they're all strangers to each other.

And in truth, that's to be expected. Rio Ngumoha has been promoted to the side from the academy and both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are still getting up to speed with their new surroundings.

In addition to the sad loss of Diogo Jota, the Reds willingly sold Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, which almost guaranteed that a lot of continuity in forward areas would be lost. New relationships have to develop, with chemistry forming between the players. Now in October, it's still not quite there yet.

However, there is a way for Liverpool to address some of their cohesion issues and Arne Slot is going to have to trust those who are delivering for him before he can risk playing some of the others.

Slot has to trust his depth

Right now, too many players in the Reds' side are underperforming. The defence is a lot more leaky that it was last season, the midfield balance isn't quite right, leading to the forwards being cut off from the rest of the team, and when chances are created, the decision-making is a little way-ward.

In 10 appearances, Cody Gakpo has two goals and two assists, while Mohamed Salah has three goals and three assists. Together, they're averaging 160 minutes per goal contribution, which is quite low for two 'guaranteed' starters in the team. Quite simply, we need more from the pair of them.

Isak will get somewhat of a free pass so far, since his introduction into games has been part of a 'preseason' campaign, which he missed out on during the summer because he was forcing his move.

Nonetheless, he has two goals and assists in 312 minutes played - in line with Salah and Gakpo.

And then we come to Ekitike, who should arguably have the least pressure to deliver of all four players, since he's only 23 years old, and getting to grips to playing in a new country. Yet he's been the most successful of the lot, scoring five goals and getting an assist in just 598 minutes played.

The talent in the ranks will click together eventually, but right now it feels like we're trying to persist with players who simply aren't delivering for us. As such, Slot needs to turn to his depth more often.

Federico Chiesa is a player who has struggled to get anything right since he joined last year. Upon arrival, his injury and fitness issues heavily limited Liverpool's ability to play him, although he's like a new player this season, with four goal contributions from just 153 minutes on the pitch. Obscene.

But he can't get on the pitch. Initially, he was missed off the Champions League squad, before being added once it was clear that Giovanni Leoni's injury was an ACL tear, taking him out for the season.

Although he was left at home for the trip to play Galatasaray last week because of a 'niggle' which gave fans the impression he would start against Chelsea. In reality, he was an unused substitute.

Might he have changed the game for Liverpool, who knows? But when you're staring down the barrel of a third consecutive loss in all competitions, leaving out your most in-form player is a bold choice.

Furthermore, it seems as though Ngumoha was missed off the match day squad list at the weekend to facilitate Chiesa's place on the 20-man trip. When all six attackers are fit, why only bring five?

Especially since the 17-year-old brings something different to the attack, running directly at full-backs and putting the opposition under pressure. That kind of intent is missing in our side right now.

Slot's decision-making is polarising, especially since we're now in the October international break, meaning any risk of injury could've been helped with the two week break from club competitions.

Liverpool have more options available than they're currently using and when the attack is incohesive, you have to experiment. Slot knows this and will have to admit his errors by changing things up when the players return. Otherwise, we're relying on underperforming players to turn things around, which currently isn't a strategy that's working for us. It's time to reconsider how the team should set up.

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