Anthony Gordon perfectly sums up big Liverpool problem that Arne Slot simply must solve

Anthony Gordon spoke eloquently ahead of Newcastle facing PSG in the Champions League, and his comments will have resonated with plenty at Liverpool in the context of this season

Anthony Gordon speaks at a press conference before PSG vs Newcastle United in the Champions League.(Image: Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

It is solutions, not explanations, that Liverpool head coach Arne Slot must find to get his team moving in the right direction again. But he isn't the only one finding the Premier League tough at the moment.

Heading into the final round of European fixtures, five of the top eight teams in the standings are English. Only Manchester City — who is actually level on points with Chelsea and Newcastle above it — is outside of that block; only Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG have so far been able to compete.

And yet, curiously, when you look at the Premier League table, Liverpool (fourth in Europe but sixth domestically) is struggling. Tottenham is fifth and 14th respectively, and Newcastle seventh and ninth.

There is a legitimate argument that this year's Premier League is a tough watch. Those who have adapted successfully don't make for great viewing, but are able to cope.

Those, like Liverpool, that have so far been unable to come up with a counter-plan that works are at risk of finishing the season substantially adrift from their initial aims.

Arne Slot has spoken at length about the difficulties that his side has faced; primarily, but not limited to, low blocks. And Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon spoke well on the matter ahead of facing PSG.

Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon(Image: Getty Images)

"In the Champions League, teams are much more open. They all try and play. It's less transitional," Gordon said.

"In the Premier League, it has become more physical than I have ever known it to be. It's like a basketball game sometimes.

"It's so relentless physically. There is not much control. It's just a running game and sometimes whoever wins the duels wins the game.

"In the Champions League, it's a bit more of an older style of game. It's a bit more football-based.

"Teams come and try to play proper football, whereas in the Premier League now, you see a lot more long throws, set-pieces, and it's become a lot slower."

Gordon was not moaning. He didn't say that it was worse off being this way, or that Newcastle was unable to compete as a result, but it was an interesting observation nonetheless.

"It has been a big difference, I think, in terms of playing against the teams," Jeremie Frimpong, tying into the same theme, said on Tuesday when asked to compare the Bundesliga and the Premier League. "It’s much more demanding and much more physical."

At Liverpool, there is a need to come to terms with the direction of travel for the game. For better or for worse — and it is almost inarguably the latter — this is how the modern Premier League is shaping up. The Reds have no choice but to find a way of being better able to compete.

Does that mean buying more physical players? Maybe. More likely, it means having a deeper roster that is able to absorb injury blows and better offer the chance of rotation.