Written on 10/08/2025
After doing very little in the transfer market last summer, Liverpool have been more active this time, moving players out and bringing in quality signings to fill the gaps left behind. Four are already signed (Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike) with more expected in the final three weeks.
There is a general consensus that this summer’s signings will offer a clearer picture of how an Arne Slot team functions tactically. While the manager made subtle tweaks to the system last season, he did not bring in any major signings to complement those changes.
This time, the club’s backing has been strong, coming from a position of real strength after Slot masterminded a title win last season. I preferred to wait for a few preseason games before making notes on how the team will play tactically in the coming season, focusing on the theory and principles behind their approach.
Let’s look at some of the in-game visuals and see what we can deduce from those images one by one:
As was the case last season, Slot always wanted one of the fullbacks to stay behind the ball when building play from the back. That basic principle has remained unchanged so far in what we have seen during preseason.
When we talk about a 3-2 buildup, it means three players form the last line while two midfielders provide passing options to receive the ball and help progress play. In the picture above, left-back Kerkez sits deep alongside centre-backs Wataru Endo and Ibrahima Konate. The two central midfielders position themselves ahead as options; here, Ryan Gravenberch has already received the ball from Konate and is preparing to move it forward.
Attacking midfielder Wirtz can either drop deep to receive the ball from Gravenberch or make a run behind the opposition’s midfield, as he is doing in the picture. Right-back Frimpong is positioned further up the pitch than his fullback counterpart, ready to either underlap or go wide.
In this variation of the 3-2 buildup, Frimpong stays high and wide on the right, allowing Mohamed Salah to cut inside and position himself almost like a wide striker. Wirtz occupies the tip of a midfield triangle, while Ekitike, starting as a number nine, drifts out to the left. Although not shown in the picture, left winger Cody Gakpo hugs the touchline on the left, mirroring Frimpong on the right in this asymmetrical buildup.
