Liverpool are having a tough season, and manager Arne Slot knows the biggest problem is on the wings. In modern football, wingers have one of the hardest roles, and right now Liverpool’s wide players are struggling to make an impact.
The team’s attack has slowed down a lot compared to last season, and that is one big reason why they are 19 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Liverpool face Wolves again at Molineux in the FA Cup, just days after losing to them in the league. Slot may use this match to test different options on the wings and see who can bring some energy back to the attack.
Mohamed Salah, who was unstoppable last season with 47 goal contributions, has only managed 11 this season. He recently scored against Wolves, but that goal ended a long 11-game drought in the league.
On the other side, Cody Gakpo has also struggled and has only one goal in his last nine games.
Liverpool also miss Luis Díaz, who was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer. His pace and dribbling used to stretch defenses, something Liverpool clearly lack now. Injuries have also limited Jeremie Frimpong, whose speed could have helped break stubborn defenses.
Another problem is that many teams sit deep against Liverpool, making it hard to create chances. Even Virgil van Dijk admitted the team has been too slow and predictable in possession.
One bright spark could be 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who came off the bench against Wolves. The young winger showed confidence and creativity, even creating chances faster than some senior players.
He is still learning, but his pace and fearlessness could give Liverpool something different.
With a Champions League clash against Galatasaray coming soon, Slot hopes his wide players can step up. If not, Liverpool might need to look for new wingers in the summer to bring back the attacking spark the fans are missing.
