Lost Liverpool star with ONE start in 18 months can now save them

Liverpool are struggling right now but one star who doesn't really have a place can help turn things around. It's time to put him in.

Liverpool have now lost four consecutive Premier League fixtures as they continue to struggle with this new team. The Reds spent an enormous amount of money in the summer but failed to create the right blend of players.

It couldn't really be more clear right now that this group does not fit the style of play that Arne Slot wants. At least, not the style with which he wanted to start the season.

The team is far too open and easy to score against, which in turn makes it difficult for Liverpool to maintain possession high up the pitch. The latter can be seen in the numbers from the centre-backs - far more touches deep in the defensive third and a drop in midfield touches.

Slot has broadly used a 4-2-3-1 formation with Liverpool since arriving but right now, it's proving to be too open. There's a massive gap between the midfield and defence, allowing for a series of long balls to create trouble. Even if the defenders win that first ball, the second ball is difficult to pick up with so many players pressing high.

Klopp solved this issue with a lone defensive midfielder who allowed the other two midfielders to press high while bridging the team with the defence. Of course, that meant playing without a typical no.10. That would be the sacrifice here.

Liverpool's midfield problem

Liverpool do have one player in the squad who knows how to play the holding midfield role: Wataru Endo. It's exactly what he was signed to do and we saw it in his first campaign under Klopp.

He'd sweep up those second balls and attempts to play in behind the team. He'd do that on average of five times per 90 minutes, in fact.

But it's more about what he didn't allow teams to do. They couldn't try and run through the middle, they couldn't just drop off the defenders and occupy the space behind midfield because Endo was there.

He's willing to tackle, willing to foul, and willing to limit his game. That last one is just as important - Endo is fine simply playing routine passes to those with more range than him.

Not all players are willing to do that.

Endo feels like the safest possible option right now, especially as midfielders keep getting knocks. But it must come in a 4-3-3 with him as the out-and-out central player.

It's the role he excels at, the role he was signed for, and the role Liverpool are crying out for right now.

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