Liverpool’s duel problem laid bare: The numbers behind Slot’s defensive warning

Robin Bairner

• 29 Oct 2025 07:30 CDT
• 4 min read

Analysis

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has overseen four successive Premier League defeats and has pinpointed exactly where his struggling squad is going wrong.

While the Premier League champions must collectively raise their level, the Dutchman wants to see his players become more competitive in their individual duels – and one under-fire star appears to be indirectly targeted by the Anfield boss.

Slot has noted that teams have become more direct against his side, and being tougher in their head-to-head battles is something he wants from his players.

“I’ve looked at how many long balls we already had to defend – 178 in seven games and then Manchester United came and we had to defend 59,” he told the media.

“Too many duels were lost, too many second balls weren’t won.”

What does this mean for Liverpool?

Liverpool actually won more duels than Manchester United overall in the Anfield clash, which resulted in a 2-1 reverse.

Slot’s comments seem off the mark when looking at things in this simplistic form, but he was likely referring to more specific events in the game.

For example, WyScout reports that the Reds only won 42% of losses ball duels and 37% of aerial duels – two critical areas.

So, which individuals was Slot digging out in his comments?

While we’ll never know for certain which players the Liverpool boss is targeting, Ibrahima Konate was likely at least one figure he wants more from.

The former RB Leipzig centre-back was criticised for his performance against Man Utd at the time, and the data backs that up with regard to what the manager said.

Konate won only 57% of his aerial duels and just 20% of loose ball duels. For a centre-back who is supposed to dominate in these areas, both figures are alarming.

But Virgil van Dijk should not escape criticism either. The Netherlands international won only 60% of his aerial battles but was better when it came to loose balls, sweeping up four of six.

The problems were just in the heart of the Reds’ defence, though. Conor Bradley, replaced after 65 minutes, was another notable weak link in this regard while €40 million summer signing Jeremie Frimpong was just as feeble, albeit only in a brief cameo.

Liverpool paying for missed Guehi deal

The repercussions are that Slot will seek to make changes in the middle of his defence, with the priority of signing Konate to a new contract suddenly not looking nearly as important given his overall weak form in recent times.

Linked with Real Madrid, the 26-year-old France international defender, who is out of contract at the end of June, came into the season regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, but he now faces losing his starting status at Liverpool.

With depth in the middle of the defence limited due to a long-term injury to Giovanni Leoni, the Anfield side may dip back into the January transfer market.

Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi would be an obvious target given Liverpool had a Deadline Day deal collapse at the last minute for the England centre-back this summer.

Indeed, this missed transfer is starting to look very costly indeed, with Konate’s complete lack of form now the subject of indirect criticism from Slot.