SEVEN years later Arne Slot needs to bring back the star Liverpool lost

Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over bottom-placed Southampton at Anfield this afternoon, but it was a closer affair than the scoreline makes it seem.

In a torpid first half in which not very much happened at all, Southampton took the lead due to a calamity in communication between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson. Will Smallbone did the rest, smashing the ball into an open goal.

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Arne Slot’s half-time substitutions worked a treat, with Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott and Alexis Mac Allister replacing Kostas Tsimikas, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones. Within 10 minutes of the restart the Reds were 2-1 up - Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah to thank - and Salah netted a second penalty late on to see out the win.

It puts Liverpool 16 points clear of Arsenal who travel to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

And whilst the situation all came out in the wash, it leaves some lingering questions for the Reds to answer.

Particularly - what do they do about the fact they struggled to break down the worst side in the league for significant periods of the game?

It’s an awkward reality Arne Slot has to face. His side have found every way to win games this entire season and do it consistently, but unless Mo Salah is firing on all fronts then the supporting cast are constantly missing in action.

Darwin Nunez did his part today but he occupies space across the front line, rarely ever capitalising on chances with any consistency. Luis Diaz was a non-factor, struggling to do the most basic of winger duties. And in games like this, Dominik Szoboslzai lacks the ability to thread the needle or create space for his own shots.

It almost always takes Alexis Mac Allister being on the pitch to do any sort of creation, and that naturally happens from a deeper position. He anticipates runs and plays attackers in to space as good as any midfielder in the league, and Liverpool’s victories are never in spite of him.

But, as seen today, if he’s not on the pitch then the team struggle. They need something else. They need someone else. They need a player who can make things happen, create his own shots and drag opposing defenders out of their positions.

Liverpool need a number 10.

Liverpool need a number 10 to give themselves safety

It’s easier said than done, of course. The position is becoming rarer and rarer in this day and age, particularly with the sport’s emphasis on deeper creation.

But this side have that and they have their wide talisman. And it results in the middle of the attacking third being a void for attacks, creation and hope.

Florian Wirtz is a name that has been linked to the club for a while. He fits the mold as a player who likes to occupy that space and is both a confident dribbler and a passer. He would require Arne Slot to accommodate him in a role that doesn’t exist in this side at the moment.

And it hasn’t existed for a long time. The last player of that mould Liverpool had on their books was Philippe Coutinho who departed for Barcelona in January 2018.

After that, Jurgen Klopp decided a more workman-like midfield was needed. Of course, he was right. But it means that Liverpool now need to rectify a seven year absence in their team.

This isn’t to say Liverpool need to change everything about their team. Clearly, this team works fine. But the lack of creation from this area has been an issue all season.

Nottingham Forest have it with Morgan Gibbs-White. Brighton have it with Georginio Rutter. Bournemouth have it with Justin Kluivert. James Maddison, Bruno Fernades (forgive me). The list goes on.

And that’s just in England.

There are options out there. And for the first time in seven years, Liverpool should get one too.

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