Liverpool 5-1 Frankfurt: Salah on the bench, Ekitike shines
Arne Slot tried 4-4-2, leaving Mohamed Salah on the bench and giving the role to Gakpo - Ekitike - Wirtz; Liverpool ended a 4-game losing streak, the real test was Brentford.
Liverpool crushed Frankfurt 5-1 to end a four-game losing streak, but the defining moment was on the technical side: Arne Slot benched Mohamed Salah, withdrew Alexander Isak at half-time and handed the spearhead of the attack to Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz. It was a bold decision, but also a test for the near future.
Developments and tactical turning points
Slot took the initiative to “refresh” a tired team with a series of strong adjustments. The decision to withdraw Isak after 45 minutes and put faith in Ekitike changed the way Liverpool put pressure on the opponent’s defense. The pressing tempo increased, the movements without the ball appeared more frequently and the space behind Frankfurt’s midfield was exploited more effectively in the second half.
Frankfurt are not a perfect measure: they are seventh in the Bundesliga, 11 points off the top, have conceded 23 goals in their last six games and haven’t kept a clean sheet since April. But on a mental and structural level, Liverpool have found the rhythm that was missing during their slump.
The almost standard 4-4-2 and Wirtz's "left-field" role
The slot is arranged in a structure close to 4-4-2: Wirtz starts on the left but is allowed to move into the center to create an additional creative satellite between the lines. That flexibility stretches the Frankfurt defense, giving Liverpool better control and opening up coordination triangles between Wirtz – full-back – striker in the half-space penetration.
In the vertical axis, the central midfield pair had more support from Wirtz's midfield receiving, thereby shortening the transition time. When the opponent did not continuously hang the ball long, Liverpool easily set up the first and second pressing traps - exactly the way Slot wanted.
Ekitike and the center problem
Ekitike is a bright spot. He moves flexibly, exploits space behind the center-back and presses tirelessly – qualities Isak has yet to fully demonstrate. However, Isak’s groin injury means Slot has not had enough data to assess the potential of the two center-forwards playing together.
Wirtz back in orbit
After a difficult start, Wirtz showed growing confidence: delicate touches and pressing passes began to appear regularly. This was the kind of “off-field conductor” that Slot needed for a two-striker attacking structure.
The elephant in the room named Salah
Salah’s benching is not just a short-term decision, but also a test for the “post-Salah” scenario – which will come sooner or later when the Egyptian striker is expected to leave for AFCON in December. Slot is even willing to sideline Mac Allister, showing that he is not afraid to touch the power of the dressing room to recreate the playing axis.
Numbers speak for themselves.
| Index | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 5-1 | Liverpool beat Frankfurt |
| Pre-match series | 4 losses | Liverpool end losing streak |
| Location of Frankfurt | Bundesliga 7th | 11 points away from the top |
| Goal lost to Frankfurt | 23 goals/6 matches | The defense has clearly declined. |
| Clean sheet of Frankfurt | Not available since April | Long streak of no clean sheets |
| Liverpool diagram | Near 4-4-2 | Wirtz plays left, moves into the middle |
Echoes and messages from Slot
“Frankfurt made it easier for us to press because the ball wasn’t hanging in the air as much as it had against our previous opponents,” Slot said after the match. This was a jab at Manchester United and Chelsea – two teams who had recently beaten Liverpool with long, direct passing. The tactical point was clear: when opponents didn’t get through early, Slot’s Liverpool controlled and stifled the midfield.
Impact and test named Brentford
The win helped calm the mood, but it wasn’t enough to declare “Liverpool are back”. The big question is whether the 4-4-2 (or 4-2-2-2 variant) is sustainable in the Premier League, depending on Ekitike and Wirtz maintaining their form, and Isak getting back into the groove. Brentford – the upcoming opponents with their long, direct style – are the true test of what Slot is building.
Liverpool won big, fans were relieved, and Slot had some time to perfect the next version of his team. But the road from a 5-1 win to a long-term competitive identity is still full of twists and turns – and Brentford will tell us whether they are on the right track or just out of a short-term dream.
