Despite the fact that two attackers were signed in the summer, the intention was not to play with both up front at the same time. In fact, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike had only started together once, in Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, before their appearance at San Siro.
A hallmark of Liverpool’s campaign so far has been the switch from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 last season. The change often leaves the Reds vulnerable and easy to play, as opposition managers themselves have noted.
However, against Inter they were anything but leaky.
Mo Salah’s role off the ball
Part of the reason for Salah’s removal was Slot’s determination to stop the wave of goals conceded.
While the Reds’ form is far from the Egyptian’s pure fault, Dominik Szoboszlai playing on the right has helped strengthen the team.
However, deploying the Hungarian on the wing is unlikely to be a long-term solution as Liverpool will need the firepower of their attackers, especially Salah, for an entire season.
Liverpool have had their fair share of line breaks this season – with Salah on versus off the pitch#LFC #PL
? @voetovisie pic.twitter.com/vLGfkbRULF
— Andy Forrester (@AndyForrester1) December 10, 2025
Against Leeds and Inter – it only really applied out of possession at Elland Road – Slot played the diamond in midfield, meaning there were no real wingers on the pitch.
Off the ball, the attackers did not have to work too far back, instead focusing on their pressing at the top of the pitch and this could benefit Salah.
Although he actually covered more distance per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season than last, the number 11 has been criticized for not being able to track effectively.
If he played as one of the front two, Liverpool could still use his relentless energy, but he wouldn’t be forced to track runners so deep.
Can Mo Salah play up front?
Playing Salah as part of a front two could also suit him in possession.
It’s clear the 33-year-old isn’t all that familiar with playing through the middle, but the way Ekitike and Isak played meant the forwards went wide – in fact, it was completely necessary.
Normally during attacks on Tuesday, one of the attackers would go wide to assist the full-back, the only source of width, while the other would hold his position to provide a target in the penalty area.
In fact, against Leeds, Gakpo spent so much time on the left that the formation without the ball was barely recognizable as a 4-diamond-2, as Slot described it.
Another quality you need from your attackers is that they can get behind, something Salah should be able to do, although he has become more of a creator in the last two years.
One of the reasons why Slot has not played Isak and Ekitike together up front often is probably due to the fact that playing them in every match for a full season is not sustainable.
However, if you can add Salah to the rotation it becomes more attractive fitness-wise and it also means that Liverpool’s entire game is not reliant on the Egyptian as he nears the end of his career.
The Egyptian could also play behind a striker with Florian Wirtz or Ekitike, making the formation a 4-1-2-2-1 on paper. In practice this would be very flexible.
How to make it work
Liverpool have been a team reliant on their wingers over the past decade and Slot is unlikely to deviate too much from that in the short term.
However, the Reds do have the necessary pieces to make a 4-diamond-2 work, especially in midfield and at wing-back.
The key to the formation is midfielders who are energetic and can comfortably take the ball in their own half.
Against Inter it was often Curtis Jones who dropped deep to receive from the centre-backs, and he was both brave and accurate with his passing.
His boyhood Red topped the charts in completed passes (67/70), line-breaking passes (14) and made three passes that broke the opponent’s defensive line (to elect).
Indeed, Jones is the most accurate midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues this season when it comes to playing progressive passes. DataMB.
The system also arguably benefited Ryan Gravenberch, who remained entrenched in the base of midfield to block passes to Inter’s front two, who were often pinned against Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.
Gravenberch has been asked to charge forward and get past the ball more this season, with his performances improving with a simplified role at San Siro.
However, for the formation to work, the full-backs must play a crucial role, with one usually staying deeper in the build-up while the other moves on.
Joe Gomez has done a fine job at right-back, but the wing-backs are essential to provide width in attack without wingers on the pitch.
This is a job better suited to Conor Bradley or Jeremy Frimpong, and it was clearly evident that the former would be suited to the role when he came on for the final 20 minutes on Tuesday.
Adapt to the game
As with any system, it has to be manly and the players have to be able to think on their feet and adapt to the game situation – something we probably haven’t seen enough of this season.
Speaking about the Reds’ win over Inter, Slot said: “In the first half we decided to keep a plus-one at the back, but then they made a few changes and it didn’t feel right to still do this in the second half.
“There were a few times when (Inter defender) Manuel Akanji went all the way to midfield. That’s why we pressed them higher.”
This usually manifested itself in Szoboszlai moving much higher up, a job for which there is probably no one better suited in the Premier League.
Are we actually going to see this in the long term? Probably not, even though it might make sense.
A change of course would be necessary, but Liverpool could not continue on the path they were on. Slot acted and his decision paid off in Inter’s favor.
At home, though, Anfield may need more to get behind as the team attacks the Kop with 55,000 Reds roaring at them.
#Salahs #return #diamond #midfield #suit #number