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    Liverpool's tactical plan revealed as Darwin Nunez faces battle to convince Arne Slot

    By Feargal Brennan,

    5 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0RMW1h_0v9hr4h300

    Liverpool followed up victory on the opening weekend of the Premier League season with a battling 2-0 home win over Brentford.

    Arne Slot's first Anfield outing saw the Dutch boss navigate through a tricky test against the Bess to emerge with all three points at full time.

    Successive wins in EPL action means Slot's 'honeymoon period' on Merseyside rolls on as Reds fans continue to adjust to life after Jurgen Klopp.

    MORE: All the latest Liverpool news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings

    Slot has looked to change Liverpool's tactical approach from Klopp's 'heavy metal football' plan with greater focus on possession and control of games.

    Liverpool averaged 62% possession per game in Klopp's final Premier League season, and Slot has matched that exactly against Ipswich Town and Brentford, with major scope for improvement.

    How Arne Slot has changed Liverpool's tactics?

    A switch to more structured play is a key factor in Slot's overall plan, and only time will tell how it impacts results, but the early signs look positive.

    He opted against major changes, trusting in the majority of Klopp's key players, and the club are infamously the only top-flight side yet to complete a transfer this summer.

    However, a reshaping of the midfield and attack, shows a key aspect of his plans, with certain players in line to miss out.

    Slot is ready to stick by his 4-2-3-1 formation, which Klopp flicked back and forth on last season, as the German started with it in just 15 EPL games.

    In Klopp's preferred 4-3-3, the onus fell to Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch/Curtis Jones to burst forward, as right and left-sided No.8s, with Alexis Mac Allister as a shallow midfield pivot (No.6).

    Liverpool's failure to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad was a key setback for Slot, with the Spaniard comfortable as a lone No.6 or as a part of a double pivot.

    No Zubimendi makes up Slot's mind on his midfield formulation, with Gravenberch and Mac Allister forming a two-man midfield base, to share responsibility in and out of possession.

    This allows Trent Alexander-Arnold greater support to advance from right-back, with Szoboszlai pushed into a roving No.10 role.

    More freedom gives the Hungarian more scope to focus on his attacking strengths, flanked by the on-fire Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.

    Salah and Diaz would have first choice picks for Klopp, but an advanced Szoboszlai reduces the need for a target man, with Diogo Jota preferred to Darwin Nunez as the line leader.

    Jota vs. Nunez looks to be the key selection call for Slot in the coming weeks, but the Portuguese international already has a goal and an assist to his name this season, and his skillset and smarter running make him a less risky pick than Nunez.

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