Liverpool face defensive challenges after Community Shield loss

Liverpool show attacking promise with new signings while defense struggles to settle in a Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.

New additions have Liverpool looking rejuvenated in attack, and withered in defense

Liverpool opened the Community Shield with energy, as Hugo Ekitiké and Jeremie Frimpong struck to show their arrival can brighten the frontline. Florian Wirtz added invention and pace, hinting at a more dynamic attack. Yet the match exposed early defensive fragility as the team contends with a subtle shift in formation from last season. They are moving from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 hybrid, a change that requires time for the group to gel and for players to adjust to new responsibilities.

The tactical overhaul is the story here. Slotted into a 4-2-3-1, Liverpool press aggressively but leave gaps behind the back line when they lose the ball. With Ryan Gravenberch unavailable and Alexis Mac Allister still building fitness, Szoboszlai operated deeper than usual alongside Curtis Jones, who offered control in a way that hints at how Slot wants the midfield to function. When Palace pressed, the defense looked exposed, a reminder that a new spine often stumbles before it sings.

Highlights

The road ahead will test how quickly this group can convert promise into consistency.