Liverpool have made a stumbling start to the new season, with multiple factors converging behind this inconsistent form. The most critical issue lies in this: while the club secured the Premier League title last season thanks to a stable starting lineup, the integration of numerous new signings this term has shattered that balance.
Yet what truly pains Arne Slot’s new system is the collapse of one of last season’s most successful midfield partnerships in the Premier League – that between Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. This twin midfield pillar exerted such dominance in the 2024/25 season that both earned individual award nominations: Mac Allister was shortlisted for PFA Players' Player of the Year, while Gravenberch claimed the Premier League Young Player of the Year award.
However, the midweek Champions League defeat to Galatasaray epitomized the pair’s struggles over the past six months. Though both featured in Istanbul, when Mac Allister came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute, Gravenberch was simultaneously substituted off – marking the Dutch midfielder’s earliest departure from a game since the Merseyside Derby against Everton this February.
Gravenberch missed the season-opening Community Shield due to a special leave of absence and sat out the Premier League opener through suspension, but the real cause for concern lies with Mac Allister. The Argentine midfielder battled injuries in the second half of last season and opted for conservative treatment via rest rather than surgery this summer. This sporadic game time has severely undermined his form: whether coming off the bench in the Champions League or starting against Crystal Palace four days ago, he has notably lacked match sharpness.
Since Liverpool’s victory over Tottenham in late April – which sealed the title – the midfield duo have only started together four times. Their combined time on the pitch totals a mere 264 minutes, less than three full matches. In contrast, across the 34 league games before clinching the championship, the pair failed to start together on just four occasions.
This instability has also indirectly prevented Florian Wirtz from fully unlocking his talent in the No.10 role. Due to constant changes in the midfield setup behind him, Liverpool have only fielded the same defensive midfield pairing once in the games Wirtz has played.
While Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones previously impressed the coaching staff with their performances at Stamford Bridge, whether this championship-winning midfield pair will reunite this Saturday remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Slot is acutely aware: only by reactivating this golden partnership as soon as possible can his tactical blueprint truly be complete. Right now, Anfield is deeply longing for the once-impenetrable midfield shield it once had.
