“We let teams pull our midfield apart” Panenka LFC | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Collapse at Fulham: Tactical Chaos and Fading Intensity

Title hopes bruised as Liverpool stumble at Craven Cottage

In a match that demanded resilience and clarity, Liverpool faltered. Fulham, disciplined and sharp, seized on moments of confusion to claim all three points, leaving Panenka LFC’s latest podcast with plenty to dissect. In their words, “That’s how you throw away a golden chance to tighten your grip on the title.”

Arsenal had dropped points earlier, setting the stage for Liverpool to “widen the gap.” Instead, three crucial points “slipped right through our hands,” lamented the presenter. The tone was one of disappointment but also deep tactical scrutiny, something Panenka LFC has built its voice on.

Structural breakdowns exposed under Slot’s system

From the first whistle, Liverpool were assertive. Their press was coordinated, their shape aggressive. “We actually came out pressing well using a man-to-man approach,” the host explained. That pressure paid off early when Alexis Mac Allister “unleashed an absolute rocket from outside the box to give us the lead.”

But that energy didn’t last. After scoring, “the intensity and aggression from our front line started to fade.” As pressing waned, Fulham found gaps. “Every time our pressing becomes passive, we let teams pull our midfield apart,” said Panenka. The cracks weren’t new — they were recurring patterns under Arne Slot.

One sequence, described in surgical detail, highlighted Liverpool’s vulnerabilities. Gravenberch dropped too deep, Curtis Jones stepped up late, and Mac Allister was left isolated. “A chain of small errors added up… just like that, Fulham had their equaliser.”

Fulham capitalise as Liverpool unravel

Fulham didn’t merely ride their luck — they pounced on Liverpool’s disarray. The second and third goals were less about tactical superiority and more about gifts from the Reds. “It felt like we just handed them to Fulham with a bow on top,” said the host, in one of the podcast’s more scathing moments.

Even Van Dijk wasn’t immune. He “misjudged a loose ball,” leading to a one-on-one that Kellaher had no chance of stopping. “It gets worse,” Panenka continued, as Liverpool’s shape and communication crumbled.

Changes came in the second half. Slot adjusted by pushing Jones higher and allowing Salah to drift centrally, which “helped tighten things up defensively,” but it was all “a bit too late.” Luis Díaz injected much-needed urgency and pulled a goal back, with support from Connor Bradley’s overlapping runs — “his explosive overlapping runs from deep created overloads.”

But even with subs Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa adding energy, the damage was done. “The impact was there but not enough time to turn things around completely.”

Warning signs for the title race

This wasn’t a one-off, and that’s what makes it more concerning. “These problems have shown up more than once this season,” the host warned. When intensity dips, “our pressing shape becomes messy, players look unsure about their roles, and the opposition takes full advantage.”

Slot’s tactical plan, while promising, still hinges on the team executing with clarity. “It’s not panic time,” the host said, but cautioned, “we can’t afford to keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Despite moments of individual brilliance and a deep squad, structural lapses and energy management continue to haunt Liverpool. Against a side like Fulham — determined, organised, and ruthless — those flaws were punished.

As Panenka LFC rightly asked in closing: “Should Slot be doing more to fix these structural problems or is it down to the players not executing properly?” It’s a question that echoes beyond this match, into the heart of Liverpool’s title ambitions.