Unlock Trent, move Salah central and play Carvalho? How Liverpool can fix their problems against Bournemouth

Twice already this season, Liverpool have started games slowly, appearing unprepared for their opponents’ energy, dynamism and physicality.

Unsettled at Fulham on the opening weekend, they were downright rattled by Manchester United. On both occasions, it took around half an hour for Klopp’s side to find any kind of rhythm. On both occasions, they were a goal down by the time they did.

Klopp questioned his players’ attitude at Craven Cottage, hinting at complacency. The problems were different at Old Trafford, he insisted, but to most observers the similarities were clear; Liverpool looked timid, a yard off the pace and almost surprised that a team would have the temerity to get amongst them.

A repeat on Saturday would be unacceptable. Bournemouth, who have been battered by Manchester City and Arsenal in their last two games, should not have the quality to outplay Klopp’s side over 90 minutes, but if they’ve done their homework then they should certainly be looking to test the Reds’ mettle. Liverpool must be up for the fight from the first whistle.

It really is a remarkable run for a side of such quality. In each of Liverpool’s last seven Premier League matches, they have conceded the first goal, with four of those coming within the opening 16 minutes of the game.

A problem of concentration? Preparation? Luck? Who knows, but if you keep on giving your opponents a 1-0 headstart, the likelihood is that it will end up costing you. Liverpool took too long to wake up at Fulham and even longer to do so at Manchester United. They actually began well against Crystal Palace in between those games, but were unable to find that all-important breakthrough.

Maybe Saturday will be the day their fortunes change.

For all the talk of midfield issues, it is clear that Liverpool’s attack is not yet functioning as it can.

Statistically at least, the Reds have been doing a lot of the things they always do. They have dominated possession in each of their three games - 67 percent against Fulham, 73 against Palace and 71 against United - and have had a total of 126 touches in the opposition penalty area - 13 more than Manchester City, by way of comparison. Their tally of 237 ‘final third entries’, meanwhile, is the highest in the division.

But while the intent has been there, their precision has been lacking. Klopp’s side have managed 52 shots in the Premier League, 40 of them from inside the box, but only 13 have been on target. 

Roberto Firmino, certainly, has struggled, managing just one shot (and one air-kick) across his two starts. Diogo Jota is injured and Darwin Nunez is suspended, meaning the onus is on Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz, even more so than usual, to provide the spark.

Salah has shown admirable application, scoring second-half goals against both Fulham and United and almost snatching the points against Palace with a late effort, but Liverpool would surely benefit from seeing the Egyptian take up central positions more often. At times, particularly in the first half of games, he has appeared marooned out on the right, unable to influence the game and unbalance the opposition defence as we know he can.

When you set the highest of standards, even the slightest dip can feel significant. That has certainly been the case with Liverpool’s full-backs this season, with neither Andy Robertson nor Trent Alexander-Arnold hitting top form so far.

Alexander-Arnold’s problems have been largely defensive ones, struggling to move his feet and stay switched on against nimble wingers and being unable to compete at the back post against Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Robertson, meanwhile, has looked a little short of his usual energy. He has been substituted twice for Kostas Tsimikas, and has so far delivered ‘only’ nine open-play crosses, compared to Alexander-Arnold’s 21. The two chances he has created both came from inswinging corners at Old Trafford.

If Liverpool are to wake themselves from their slumber, they need their big players to come to the party. Expect a reaction from their ‘wingmen’ this weekend.

It wasn’t easy to find positives at Old Trafford, but the performance of Fabio Carvalho off the bench was certainly one.

The teenager has, in fact, had an impact in each of his three substitute appearances this season. He might have won both the Fulham and Palace games with late volleys, while against United his tidiness and positivity stood out. It was his shot, saved by David De Gea, which allowed Salah to reduce the deficit and set up a tense finale.

Will we see more of him against Bournemouth? It certainly looks possible. Carvalho played twice against the Cherries for Fulham last season, so should have no fears about facing the likes of Lloyd Kelly, Chris Mepham and Co. He might not have the experience or the nous of Firmino, but he has freshness, versatility and threat, as well as something to prove at his new club.

It would be a bold call to start him, but it could be the right one for Klopp.

For all the talk of new signings, or of players returning from injury to help an ailing squad, there is only one surefire way to put smiles back on faces at Anfield - and that’s by winning games.

Three of Liverpool’s next four league matches are at home, and the other is a Merseyside derby across Stanley Park at Goodison. Ample opportunity, then, to remind everyone what they are about.

For all the crisis pieces written in the media this week, and for all the furious and at-times-hysterical online chatter, this is still a mighty fine team, one which has proven itself capable of stringing together long winning runs, and of emerging strongly from moments of adversity.

It’s time to do so again.