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The Reds exited the UEFA Champions League and lost in the EFL Cup final within one week, laying bare some of their weaknesses at a crucial time of the season. This article outlines some of those weaknesses across both matches.
After a 1-1 aggregate scoreline, Liverpool lost via penalties against PSG in the Champions League round of 16, but they were dominated for a larger part of the tie.
Fast forward to the weekend, the Reds once again lost, this time 2-1 against Newcastle in the EFL Cup final, with the Magpies limiting them in attack.
Here are some of the weaknesses we noticed in the Liverpool team across both matches.
Lack of quality in depth
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Liverpool’s defeat to PSG and Newcastle exposed their squad depth issues. With players like Trent Arnold missing and fatigue setting in for the starting XI, the drop in quality was evident when other squad members had to fill in.
Slot’s attacking patterns lacked the personnel and quality to provide the required impact. Squad players like Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott worked hard but lacked the cutting edge. Without proven alternatives, Liverpool struggled to maintain their usual dominance in crucial moments.
No replacement for Alexander-Arnold’s Passing
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Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence left Liverpool without a deep-lying playmaker. His passing range, vision, and creativity were sorely missed against Newcastle.
Without him, Liverpool’s buildup play became predictable, forcing them to rely on slower transitions. As a result, Liverpool’s attack lacked fluidity, and key players like Mohammed Salah received far fewer quality chances.
No real goal threat apart from Salah
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Liverpool’s struggles in front of goal were clear in both defeats. Salah remains their biggest attacking threat, but when PSG and Newcastle neutralized him, no one else stepped up.
Darwin Nunez was wasteful, while Luis Diaz lacked the end product. Liverpool lacked a reliable secondary scorer. Without multiple attacking threats, they struggled to break down well-organized defensive setups.
Liverpool’s pressing struggles against Newcastle
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The Reds found it difficult to press Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final due to the Magpies' direct playing style. Slot admitted as much in his post-match interview, highlighting how Newcastle consistently bypassed Liverpool’s press.
“This game was all about physical battles, not running intensity, so we couldn’t even judge if we were tired,” Slot explained after the loss. “You can only tell if a team is fatigued when they press, but we had nothing to press because they kept playing over us.”
Newcastle’s long balls and direct approach made it nearly impossible for Liverpool to apply their usual high press, leaving them struggling to regain control.
Liverpool’s aerial weakness against Newcastle
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Another key issue was Liverpool’s lack of aerial strength, something Slot also pointed out after the defeat. The Reds won just 32% of their aerial duels, while Newcastle dominated with 68%.
“If we played a game in the air against them 10 times, they would probably win nine,” Slot admitted. “They are simply stronger in that area, and that’s how they scored both goals. They were the better team in aerial battles, and that made the difference.”
Liverpool’s struggles in the air were costly, allowing Newcastle to control key moments and ultimately win the final.
Both goals also came from aerial duels. Dan Burn heading in from a corner routine for the first, while Jacob Murphy won an header in the box that landed to Alexander Isak who shot once time for the second.
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