Archive October 22, 2025

On the heels of four straight losses, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was called for on a night of bravery in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Reds were out of form and in need of a win, so Slot made the decision to play Eintracht Frankfurt against Mohamed Salah and experiment with a change of formation.

The most intriguing aspect of that change was the initial decision to debut Alexander Isak for British record alongside Huge Ekitike.

With Ekitike scoring against the club he left at the end of the summer to make the move to Merseyside, Liverpool triumphantly defeated their German foes 5-1.

However, Isak’s groin injury prevented him from playing the second half, which cost him.

He had to leave at halftime because he felt a little groin, Slot later told TNT Sports.

It’s unfortunate, but it’s difficult to strike a balance with a player who missed three months.

You play them slowly, and occasionally people criticize that you can’t play him for more than three days, but we’ve already done so twice in three days, and sadly he had to go off.

Let’s hope for the best, they say.

After the teams had been announced before Wednesday night’s game, the main conflict was how Liverpool would integrate Ekitike and Isak into the starting lineup.

Although Slot has previously preferred to rotate the two, this was the first time Liverpool fans could observe how they played side by side before a match.

How did the Reds’ lineup work, then?

Umir Irfan, a football tactics correspondent for BBC Sport:

Slots altered his strategy in favor of Frankfurt, which ultimately paid off.

With Florian Wirtz defending as a right midfielder, Liverpool maintained a 4-2-4-2 formation throughout the game, which is not typical for his teams.

They played a slightly fluid 3-3-2-5 formation when they were in possession. On the left and right flanks, respectively, Cady Gakpo and Jeremie Frimpong, followed by Conor Bradley, and finally Conor Bradley.

Although Isak and Wirtz rotated between themselves and Ekitike, they each played inside, slightly to the left, and they each played inside, slightly to the right.

“Defensively, Liverpool still appeared to be wide at times, and the more attacking midfield trio, combined with Slot’s rotation-heavy approach, left gaps down the middle.

Liverpool initially appeared to struggle with the system, but a sweeping Eintracht Frankfurt counter opened the door for the opener, opening them again with their defensive frailties.

The Reds have now conceded 18 goals in 13 games this season, up from seven at the same time last term, and Frankfurt’s goal left them without a clean sheet in eight of those games.

But they certainly developed in both the organization and the game, and their high-pressing football was especially impressive in the second half.

Crucially, five different players scored this time, and they also took their chances.

Former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock stated to BBC Sport, “I think this might be a long-term system for Slot, but time will tell.”

He continued, “A new system will always have minor flaws, but it won’t be perfect right away.”

It’s challenging to adjust at the start of a game, but they soon found themselves comfortable in their own way of playing.

It’s just about understanding your defensive responsibilities, in my opinion, but I actually thought Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones were brilliant in the game, on the ball, and when Liverpool came forward.

As the game progressed, they learned. Sometimes you fall into old habits and press or leave your job while thinking you can because it’s not your night job. Occasionally, it’s just a case of being told once more that you’re in your position and continue to work there.

Some of the viewers are enthused by the possibility of playing more games together, despite the 45-minute Isak-Ekitike partnership.

Andy Cole, a former Manchester United striker, told BBC Sport, “I like it.” They are both well-aged and ready for the future.

They could play as two, “because if they did, it would ultimately lead to chaos.” They both possess the ability, pace, and ability to challenge opponents.

Ekitike’s sixth goal against Frankfurt appeared to have been the best of all Liverpool’s summer signings, with the striker showing promise.

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves said on TNT Sports, “I thought Ekitike was the best player.”

When Salah’s remaining Liverpool squad totals 31 goals in the Champions League, which is even more impressive given how impressive Salah’s 52 goals are.

Therefore, Slot made the brave choice to not start him when Liverpool desperately needs a win, even if he had also placed him on the bench for Liverpool’s previous encounter with Galatasaray in Europe.

Salah hasn’t been at his best this season, scoring just two league goals in eight games, for a player who scored 29 goals in the same league last season.

The Egypt international looked desperate to score when he came on in Frankfurt for the final 16 minutes, going for goal from a dangerous angle when a square pass to Florian Wirtz would have been preferable, and also shooting well over.

According to Hargreaves, “The season he had last season was one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

It’s not a bad thing to push him, I believe, to make him angrier. They now also have choices.

Salah hasn’t been firing all of his shots, Warnock continued, “but they showed against Eintracht Frankfurt that they can do it without him.”

This provided a glimpse of how they would fare without him because it is obvious that Afcon is coming up in December.

If the system is effective, Salah will need to be recalled before that time, but Isak’s injury could lead to his release from jail there.

Tottenham Hotspur were appreciative of their hosts’ generosity, and the elaborate surroundings of Monaco’s Stade Louis II Stadium give off an almost welcoming atmosphere by Champions League standards.

Spurs relied on the skill of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and a lot of good luck to win a point in this millionaire’s playground, which is known for its casinos and the roll of the dice.

Thomas Frank’s side’s goalless draw was a disappointing display that will require significant improvement if they are to put a significant dent in the competition they won in the Europa League last year.

At least one impressive statistic was produced by the game. Spurs’ most recent goalless draw in 125 games was a Champions League stalemate with AC Milan in March 2023.

Spurs never looked like breaking the record books’ prohibition against a record-breaking performance, coming up with just two shots on target.

Spurs’ performance was undoubtedly insufficient to please the fans who traveled to Monaco, where one section of a stadium is more focused on architecture than atmosphere. When compared to other teams, even the home team’s self-described “Ultras” are civilized.

The visiting fans gathered under the Stade Louis II arches, and when Spurs slowed the game down as the clock ticked down, they yelled loud boos and groans.

They will feel as though they have not received the best value for their money, as do many gamblers in Monaco. After surviving so many scares, they were unhappy to see Spurs appear to have settled for a draw.

Spurs’ rearguard action prevented them from escaping, which at least allowed Frank to point to an unbeaten record after three games, this draw drawing away to Norwegian champions Bodo Glimt, who had come back from 2-0 down.

He was the hero of Spurs throughout, making four notable first half saves, three from former Arsenal player Folarin Balogun and one more when he scored a penalty save for Maghnes Akliouche.

After the break, Vicario again thwarted Balogun and Akliouche as well as substitute Aleksandr Golovin, but Jordan Teze’s point-blank block proved the difference-maker for Monaco, who appeared confident they would get the goal they merited.

Manager Frank remarked, “I believe he did a great job today. Some of the saves, in my opinion, were exceptional. He is a significant contributor to why we reached a contentious conclusion, but it can also prove pivotal in the end.

Spurs were appreciative of Monaco’s Japanese ex-Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino’s poor finishing, which wasted three respectable late chances much to the growing frustration of the home fans, who increasingly feared they would fall victim to a “scrap-and-grab” as opportunities arose.

Spurs are currently 15th in the Champions League, and they will face FC Copenhagen in their next two games before traveling to Paris St. Germain, who would not be as tolerant as Monaco if given the kind of license they gave them.

Spurs welcomed its first Champions League appearance as a sign of serious progress, but they are still adapting to the demands of Europe’s elite competition.

In a unique arena that is one of the least hostile places Spurs are likely to visit as the Champions League progresses, they made home fans feel uncomfortable right away.

When they enter the bearpit known as the Parc des Princes on November 26th, it will undoubtedly be different. If they repeat this pointless, pointless endeavor, they will not succeed.

In addition to Vicario, Micky van de Ven, the team’s captain in the absence of Cristian Romero, made an effort to keep Monaco at bay.

As Eric Dier, a former Spurs defender, walked around the pitch at half-time while Paul Pogba watched from the stands as he prepared to make his Monaco debut after signing in June, being denied the opportunity to face his old club due to injury.

Following a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision to reduce the doping ban’s four-year period to 18 months, he was given the opportunity to resume his career in March.