Slot’s Summer Signings Finally Show Signs of Purpose in Liverpool’s Tactical Evolution

Arne Slot’s summer transfer business began making more sense as Liverpool defeated West Ham 2-0 using the 4-2-3-1 formation the Dutch manager always intended to implement. Alexander Isak scored his first league goal, Florian Wirtz looked more comfortable in his preferred central role, and the tactical framework suggested a clear vision for Liverpool’s future—one that may not include Mohamed Salah in a starring role.
The suggestion throughout the season has been that Slot wants to move away from Liverpool’s traditional 4-3-3, instead implementing the system he used successfully at Feyenoord to win the Eredivisie. His summer signings—Isak for £135 million, Wirtz for over £100 million, and right-back Jeremie Frimpong—make considerably more sense within this framework than in Jürgen Klopp’s old system.
However, accommodating Salah within a 4-2-3-1 that requires defensive discipline from wide players has proven problematic. The Egyptian’s presence created what might be described as a post-Salah team with Salah still in it—a tactical contradiction that has contributed to Liverpool’s defensive fragility. Slot’s decision to bench his star player for this fixture suggested he may have resolved that contradiction definitively.
Wirtz operated in the central creative role he occupied at Bayer Leverkusen, showing tidy and industrious play even if his final contribution remains below expectations. His involvement in Isak’s opening goal, refusing to rush his decision after a half-cleared corner and instead finding Cody Gakpo intelligently, demonstrated the patience and composure Slot wants from that position. The understanding between players in this system will develop with time.
As confidence returns and new signings adapt to English football’s demands, Liverpool should improve significantly. The tactical framework now seems clear, even if the execution remains imperfect. For Slot, this victory represented validation of his long-term vision, suggesting the difficult transition period may be yielding results. The challenge now is maintaining this approach while gradually enhancing the quality of performances to match the results.