Are Liverpool aiming to defend Premier League crown without a direct number nine?

6 months ago

As Arne Slot begins his first full summer in charge, Liverpool’s transfer approach raises a familiar tactical question: will they once again go without an out-and-out number nine? Fresh off a Premier League title win, the early signs suggest Slot is prioritising flexibility over a fixed focal point up front.
We spoke to Will Rooney of LiverpoolWorld to get his insight on whether Slot’s side can retain their crown with this strategy, and how the club’s recruitment reflects a long-term belief in adaptability over convention.

Transcript

00:00As Arnish Slott begins his first full summer in charge,

00:06Liverpool's transfer approach raises a familiar tactical question.

00:10Will they once again go without an out-and-out number nine?

00:13Fresh off a Premier League title win,

00:15the early signs suggest Slott is prioritising flexibility over a fixed focal point up front.

00:22Rather than pursuing a classic striker,

00:24Liverpool appear committed to building a fluid, interchanging front line,

00:27one where movement, intelligence and technical quality take precedence over traditional goal poaching.

00:35The squad already features multiple forwards capable of rotating across positions

00:39and the club seems to be doubling down on that model.

00:43Following the addition of Florian Wirtz, the philosophy is clear.

00:48Rather than relying on a single central striker, Liverpool want goals coming from all angles.

00:53It's a continuation of the approach that helps secure the title

00:57but one that invites scrutiny as other top sides look to reinforce with more orthodox firepower.

01:04We caught up with Will Rooney of Liverpool World to get his insight

01:08on whether Slott's side can retain their crown with this strategy

01:11and how the club's recruitment reflects a long-term belief in adaptability over convention.

01:17Yeah, just on that striker situation, obviously it's shaping up that Liverpool might be aiming for this hybrid forward line

01:27that clearly worked and returned the Premier League title again

01:30and with the output of Mohamed Salah, for example, on the right

01:33and if they can keep Luis Diaz as well.

01:35Do you feel that's not a major issue if they do go into the season without a replacement number nine

01:41if Darwin Nunez is to go the other way?

01:44Because this hybrid line where you do see a lot of chopping and changing

01:49but with the fluidity of the forwards and the creative players behind them,

01:54it did seem to work a treat last season.

01:55Yeah, it's funny though because at the start of the summer, everyone was saying,

02:01well, the priority is a striker.

02:03Of course, it was a right-back because, you know, people knew that Trent Alexander-Arnold was going,

02:08didn't take a genius for that.

02:09A left-back as well, but if you had to say one position that needs strengthening,

02:14it would be a striker.

02:16Say, Nunez, eight starts, seven goals in all competitions.

02:21Diogo Giotta has his injury problems yet again and after he returned from injury issues,

02:26he just couldn't get up to speed.

02:28Now, that's not to say he might not start the season well like he did last year,

02:32but once he gets them injuries, he just takes a while to find rhythm again

02:36and Liverpool can't afford to take that gamble.

02:41And Luis Diaz did well operating as a makeshift number nine.

02:45He's far better on the left wing for me,

02:48albeit he's scored some real good goals as a striker.

02:52Hats are games by a league who's in the Champions League,

02:55but I think he's better someone playing wide who'll get you up the pitch,

02:59drag defenders away, create space for other players.

03:04And Cody Gakpo is very much favoured as a left winger now,

03:08even though he plays centrally under Jürgen Klopp.

03:11So, I did fear this, though,

03:15because there are a lot of clubs in the market for strikers this summer.

03:21We knew that Arsenal are chasing more Man Utd.

03:24Are they going to get another on the line?

03:26Maybe you don't see, say, as Cooney as quite an out-and-out number nine.

03:29He might seem as one of them number tens at Man Utd.

03:33Chelsea have signed Liam De Laft.

03:35Do they want to go and get another one,

03:37especially if Nicholas Jackson were to leave?

03:40So, it's a difficult market to navigate for Liverpool,

03:43and I think there are only a few out there.

03:46Obviously, Alexander Isaac is the dream,

03:48but I think Newcastle will be reluctant to sell,

03:51especially with them back in the Champions League.

03:54Look, if Liverpool had the chance to sign,

03:56maybe they would go and do it,

03:58because that would be another absolute statement to sign.

04:02Who else is out there who they can go and say,

04:06hey, this player will score us 25 league goals this season.

04:10It's talk of Hugo Ekotike at Ange McFrank first.

04:14Is he the man to go and do that?

04:16I don't know.

04:17Will he take a while to adapt?

04:18He's still only youngish.

04:21Benjamin Sesko at RB Leipzig could get by,

04:24and it'll only be a certain few games

04:27where you might miss an out-and-out one.

04:29But you've got Jotter as well.

04:31He'll be staying as well,

04:31and he can do that job,

04:33so let's not forget that,

04:34and maybe he can manage his minutes better than the games

04:36where you do need a proper striker.

04:38Then you play Diogo Jotter,

04:40and the games where you might be able to get by,

04:41then you leave him on the bench.

Are Liverpool aiming to defend Premier League crown without a direct number nine?

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