12 Feb 2026 16:34:18
It seems obvious what we're lacking is pace and power in our wide forwards (wingers) and a dynamic player to break up the play in midfield.
Do you have any ideas of players fitting these attributes that we're currently linked to?
12 Feb 2026 17:05:29
How do you break down a low block? I don't know, it's tricky, and you need great technical players and lethal finishers. It's crucial you get an early goal. Or You can do what Klopp did and - to use an NFL term - blitz the opposition as soon as their attack breaks down. Basically, you have to transition so rapidly and attack them so intensely that they don't have a chance to get the low block organised.
Take the low block out of it by overwhelming them. Power and pace from wide would help, but it needs to be coupled with very rapid transition between defence and attack. Something we're not doing under Arne Slot.
12 Feb 2026 17:30:28
Even if they get the low block organized, Ron, you should be able to hammer it into submission. This keep patient BS is what it thrives at. You go at it, and go at it, and go at it until it just cracks.
We are often too passive, waiting for openings that never come, so ultimately we just end up wasting time and opportunities. We are only somewhat better of late, but still a long way to go.
12 Feb 2026 17:34:34
Pacey wide men who can dribble will solve the vast majority of our problems imo. Teams press us high now because they don't fear the ball over the top anymore. And our current wingers (or lack of) are incapable of spamming take-ons to upset a fixed low block. Salah, Gakpo, Isak, Hugo are all players designed to finish the move. Salah and Gakpo benefited from Diaz causing hassle, committing defenders, pulling wide, running in behind, etc, while Salah and Gakpo capitalise on the bit of space that opens up as a result. Salah benefited from Mane doing the same. Haaland benefits from Doku, Semenyo, Cherki doing that.
Haaland would struggle next to Mo and Gakpo, and vice versa. Balance. We need to build around Hugo, Isak, Flo now. All 3 will be further unlocked by fast dribblers. The thing is, while i hope we target super elite wide men like Olise (dream Mo replacement) or a Kvaradona (the one that got away), i think even "very good" will be enough as long as they have the right attributes. I think we have so much creativity from Flo and so much quality in Isak/Hugo that any two from the likes of Diomande, Barcola, Yildiz, Gordon, Williams, Adeyemi, Minteh would suffice.
12 Feb 2026 17:43:07
Reason why LFC are where they are is just a lack of quality in specific areas. Yes, we do need fast wingers who are direct and cause defences so much problems, as we kinda don't have that anymore. We do need Isak badly to finish all these chances we create.
And we need 3 defenders and a defensive minded midfielder, tackler, etc, etc. And hardly any sales. But if we do this one in one out crap, then it's over for years.
12 Feb 2026 17:48:26
The cure for that imo is bringing on a central progressive passer like Adam Wharton, who has already shown in the league how good he is at setting tempo, and then going in and buying pace in wide areas. Also, we do that and we further unlock Wirtz, who at times is having to drop deeper to pick up the ball, so by the time he gets near the box he isn't as explosive.
Once teams know you have dangerous runners in behind, they often step back 5 yards, which also invites chances for our forward players. Gakpo is a ball-to-feet winger, and at his age Salah has now become similar, which in turn can leave our striker, often Ekitike, isolated.
12 Feb 2026 17:49:26
Yan Diomande is the winger we seem to want, if we believe the rumours. Big fee needed, though. Other wingers linked are Malick Fofana, Yankubah Minteh, and the more unlikely Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise. I like the look of Matheus Mane at Wolves, like many other clubs. If rumours are to be believed, we are front runners for Adam Wharton. He's not a DM, but he would offer a lot more in terms of ball progression than Macca or Gravy do. Angelo Stiller is a similar profile, but maybe a little more mobile. We are amongst a whole load of clubs that like Lille's DM, Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The same goes for Kees Smit, although he's more box to box. I haven't seen any links with Carlos Baleba or Elliott Anderson, but I am sure they are liked. Lamine Camara and Lucien Agoume are a couple of alternatives, although only the latter is a true DM. A new name that was mentioned in the last couple of days is Nordsjaelland's Caleb Yirenki. Finally, there's a very Rodri-like kid at Stuttgart called Chema Andres. Although I am sure Real will be looking to take him back.
12 Feb 2026 18:04:19
Florian Wirtz, that's how you break a low block. ?
12 Feb 2026 18:23:07
We've seen perfectly how a 4/3/3 operates under prime Klopp and, again, Slot, in the first half of last season. Our squad isn't built for that formation anymore. It lacks any direct speed. If the plan was to continue to play 4/3/3, we should've replaced Luis Diaz in summer and again in Jan.
12 Feb 2026 18:44:18
We have a head coach on £6 million per season, so should he not have a plan to beat the low block instead of moaning about the low block? Have a plan A, B, C in place. After all, that is what he is being paid for. YNWA.
12 Feb 2026 19:36:19
I feel our quick counter attack is truly finished. This was a massive part of our style and game, and made us dangerous. It made others fear us also, imo.
12 Feb 2026 19:55:07
A masterclass in coaching ideas. Thank you all.
13 Feb 2026 10:04:16
You can be as patient as you want, but if you are unable to make the oppo. defence think, the low block will remain intact for the whole game. As Ron said, Klopp played a way that made the oppo. team's defence think. His tactics, up-tempo and intensity, made them stay on their toes with their heads on a swivel, and our guys would smother them a bit like a python slowly wrapping its coils around its prey and then, gradually start squeezing.
And before the oppo. knew it, teams began to choke and then, we lay them out. Whereas the way Arne Slot plays lulls us all to sleep rather than make the oppo. low block think and react.
13 Feb 2026 12:57:54
Another key thing for breaking down the low block is making the most of our set pieces. Football is changing, teams are more efficient with them, while we remain awful.