Scouser Tommies: Lessons Learned

The Anfield Index Podcast

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another episode of Scouser Tommies, sharing their thoughts from Merseyside on all the latest with Liverpool FC.

Arne Slot got his Anfield era off to a great start but, just as the momentum was really building up, along came an international break, followed by something of a wake up call with his first defeat as Reds boss, and a home one at that.

Up next was a trip to Milan for the first game in the new look Champions League, and with Slot's side a goal down within a couple of minutes, it didn't seem like anyone had woken up.

What followed next was a lesson in how to win away in Europe, as good a performance as seen in any of the six campaigns that ended with Liverpool's name back on the European Cup, as the Reds took control of the game and came away comfortable winners against an AC Milan side that had few answers.

For anyone lucky enough to miss the Forest game, no names mentioned, it might feel like someone has been on a huge wind-up and that result didn't happen. Opening moments aside, Liverpool looked as good against Milan as they did in those games leading up to the international break, playing in the style that has seen them retain much of what was already good with the addition of more control in their passing, more thought in their movement.

For those who weren't lucky enough to escape the Forest game, it brought into sharp focus some of the issues that might be to the Reds' downfall this season if they aren't addressed. As Jay explains, Slot seems to be worryingly averse to rotating his squad, playing the same XI game after game. There were big gaps between the first few fixtures, but coming back from international duty and going into an intense period of two games a week until the next international break, Jay expected more changes.

As Jim adds, the squad wasn't strengthened in the summer, more players left than joined, and it really is time to start spreading the workload around. Slot tends to leave his substitutions until late, so those on the pitch are getting a lot of minutes - and those on the bench might be rustier than we'd like when they do get to play.

There's another home game up next, again against one of the sides that Liverpool would always be expected to beat. But being expected to beat a side doesn't mean the job's already been done, which maybe was part of the problem in the weekend just gone.

After that comes the start of Liverpool's defence of their League Cup, but as good as it is to be lifting trophies in our second home, Anfield South, Jay hopes that Slot prioritises it appropriately and makes more use of his squad. As Jim points out, it's an ideal opportunity to give some of those lads who've mainly been warming the bench a chance to show what they can do in a competitive game.

It's been a start most Reds would have been delighted with had they been offered it before the start of the season, so any criticism of Slot is still very limited, and with many Reds it just constructive criticism - and no Liverpool manager has been immune from that from the Kop at one stage or other!

Across the park there's plenty of criticism, none of it all that constructive, as they stayed welded to the bottom of the table - but at least they've not got a cup run to worry about. Some things never change…

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