Managing Liverpool as Florian Wirtz call made and perfect January signing secured

Liverpool needs to act swiftly to prevent their season from spiraling out of control. The past month has been a calamity for the current Premier League champions.

After leading the league table in the early weeks of the season, Arne Slot's side has suffered five losses in its last six matches across all competitions. Now down in seventh place with four defeats in nine league games, the Reds' season is on the verge of collapse before Christmas, especially given the difficulty of their next five fixtures.

Despite shelling out nearly £450 million ($597M) in the summer, Slot has struggled to smoothly integrate his new signings as he had planned, with his team showing signs more reminiscent of a large-scale squad overhaul than benefitting from a few tweaks. This has resulted in poor defensive performances and mainly individual flashes of brilliance salvaging results throughout the early part of the season.

We now examine three pivotal areas Liverpool need to address to save their season, ensuring that this poor run of form remains a blip rather than a pivotal moment in their campaign.

Fix defensive issues

The full-back positions have undeniably been a big issue this season. Jeremie Frimpong was signed as a replacement, albeit very different in style, for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer, with Conor Bradley also challenging for the right-back position.

Meanwhile, Milos Kerkez was brought in with high expectations as the heir to Andy Robertson, who was kept on to ease the Hungarian's transition. However, both new signings have been disappointing, with Frimpong battling injuries and Kerkez appearing out of his depth.

The Reds' habit of conceding first and then having to play catch-up has become a major issue, as has their poor defending against set pieces. Slot admits that his side is losing too many physical battles, and even the usually formidable Virgil van Dijk has shown signs of weakness.

Liverpool needs to stop giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas and focus more on defending set pieces during training. Additionally, Kerkez, as Robertson’s long-term successor, must be treated with patience.

For now, deploying Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk as the three centre-backs during build-up play, and allowing Kerkez to operate as an attacking full-back could provide more defensive stability.

Looking ahead, securing another defender in January will be crucial, especially considering they missed out on Marc Guehi in the summer. Guehi may wait until the end of the season to leave Crystal Palace on a free transfer, but Liverpool should act quickly and consider paying a substantial fee to bring him in, adding much-needed quality and competition for the rest of the season.

End striker debate

The decision to sign Alexander Isak for a record-breaking British transfer fee, considering the impressive form of new recruit Hugo Ekitike, certainly raised a few eyebrows at the time. The move has not aged well either, with Isak's performances so far being underwhelming.

The Swedish striker has battled with fitness issues since his arrival on Merseyside, netting just one goal in the League Cup. Meanwhile, Ekitike, who has scored six goals, appears visibly frustrated by having to share minutes with the more high-profile signing, despite having settled into the team seamlessly.

Once Isak recovers from his latest groin injury, he should not be rushed back into the starting line-up. Instead, Slot should rely on the more consistent and in-form Ekitike, flanked by Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, while Isak closes out games and rebuilds his rhythm post-injury. What Liverpool's front line needs right now is continuity and consistency.

Unlocking Wirtz

Before Isak's arrival, Florian Wirtz was Liverpool's record signing, joining in a deal totalling £116M ($157M) from Bayer Leverkusen. However, the German's contribution in terms of goals and assists has largely failed to justify his hefty price tag.

It could be argued that adjusting to English football takes time, and Wirtz is still creating chances despite his lack of involvement in goals. But Slot needs to figure out how to make the most of his talents.

This primarily revolves around utilizing him as a central threat, ahead of a midfield duo with runners on either side, rather than having him drift wide. Being the primary link between midfield and attack will allow him to break lines with his passing and movement, while remaining more central will also see him make more of an impact in front of goal.

To make this work, it's crucial to strike the right balance with the pivot behind him, while establishing a strong connection with Liverpool's full-backs.