There’s a lighter atmosphere around Liverpool these days. You can feel it — not loud or flashy, just steadier. Two wins in a row, 2-0 against Aston Villa and then that tidy 1-0 at Real Madrid, have smoothed some of the rough edges. They’re up to third in the table now; still behind Arsenal by seven points, yes, but the team looks less like it’s stumbling. Confidence has crept back in. Whether it sticks is another question. Sunday at the Etihad will tell us a lot.
Pep’s side will test the squad in familiar, painful ways. Manchester City demand precision: sharp pressing, quick transitions, and clinical finishing from second chances. For Liverpool, the match is less about a single change and more about tightening a bunch of small things — first touches, how players handle half seconds after receiving the ball, timing on restarts. Those things sound minor on paper but against City they become decisive. Arne Slot knows this, and he’s nudging the team in small, specific directions.
A clearer pulse, slightly different shape
Recently Liverpool have looked cleaner: the press connects better, and the ball moves quicker between lines. That uptick isn’t dramatic, but it’s noticeable. Sometimes a team needs just a nudge — two wins in a row can do that — and the mood follows. It’s not perfect. There are still shaky moments. But the general sense is of a side that has taken a few steps forward.
What Slot now wants is a more complete version of what they already have: tempo without recklessness, compactness without becoming too narrow, and a plan to break teams that sit deep. Simplicity remains the blueprint, but execution must be ruthless. Against City, simple plans face complex execution, because you need both the ball and the discipline to stop counters in the same heartbeat.
Hugo Ekitike: what’s working, and what’s missing
Hugo Ekitike is a big reason for the mood lifting. He leads the club in goals — six in all competitions — and you can see why. He has a lovely first touch, finds clever little combinations, and finishes with composure. There’s a grace to the way he receives the ball; it’s not brute force. Slot has praised those qualities, while also being candid: he wants Ekitike to be stronger in duels.
That’s not criticism for criticism’s sake. It’s a very specific ask. For a striker listed at around 6ft 3in, winning aerial battles should be part of his toolkit. The numbers give that request some weight. Ekitike has contested a fair number of aerial challenges but hasn’t dominated them. Improving that win rate — maybe just a bit — would change how Liverpool attack and defend around him.
Why the aerial game matters at the Etihad
City compress the pitch, press high, and look to win second balls quickly. If Liverpool can get a forward who holds up play, wins initial contacts, and provides a physical presence, it gives them an out from pressure. Imagine Ekitike taking a heavy pass, receiving under pressure, twisting and flicking — it allows midfielders to step up and the fullbacks to push. One extra successful aerial duel might mean a maintained attack, an added shot, or a knock-on that creates a scramble and a chance.
Set-pieces are another angle. Against top teams, small margins decide outcomes — and set-play moments are pure margin. A taller, more assertive Ekitike at the near post or back post changes how defenders have to account for Liverpool’s threat. Even winning just one more header per game could swing a couple of matches over a season. That’s not dramatic, but it’s meaningful.
How this would shift Liverpool’s shape
Ekitike’s feet already pull defenders out of position; defenders step up to engage, creating gaps. If he adds reliable aerial strength, opponents can’t rest on dropping one centre-back or jamming the channels. Wide players would find more room. Midfielders would get clearer passing lanes. The whole forward line becomes more flexible — less predictable, harder to isolate.
Also, there’s a defensive side. Against City’s set plays or long diagonal switches, if Liverpool’s frontman can contest and occasionally win aerials, they relieve pressure instantly. That might not show up glamorously on highlight reels, but it shows in possession retention and territorial control.
A realistic brief for Sunday
Slot’s instructions will likely be practical and unsparing. Keep tempo. Protect the middle. Take care on restarts. When you have the ball, don’t overcomplicate. When you don’t, press with purpose. And for Ekitike specifically: keep the tidy, inventive play you have — that’s essential — but add a bit more bite in the air. Ask for slightly stronger first contacts and to contest with more aggression when the ball is played into the box.
It’s measurable and straightforward, which makes it feel fair. No one’s asking for a new identity overnight. Just an edge. A small evolution.
A modest verdict
Liverpool’s recent improvement is genuine, albeit incremental. They’re tidier and more confident, but the Etihad represents a tougher exam. If Ekitike can nudge his aerial numbers up while keeping his on-ball composure, Liverpool will give themselves cleaner transitions, more set-piece threat, and at least a fighting chance to unsettle City. It won’t guarantee a win — that would be naive — but it does tilt some tiny, often decisive odds in their favour.
Leave a comment