31/08/2026
π΄ LIVERPOOL VS CHELSEA THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT LIVERPOOL ARE MISSING
I've been watching Liverpool and Chelsea closely, and I don't think the biggest difference between these two teams is simply individual quality.
The bigger difference is BALANCE, STRUCTURE and SQUAD PROFILE.
Chelsea finished 10th last season, but under Xabi Alonso they already look more aggressive, confident and dangerous in transition. Their 4β3 win over Brighton showed both sides of their game: frightening attacking quality, but also defensive problems that Liverpool can exploit.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have a new manager, a heavily rebuilt squad and a completely different tactical direction under Iraola. The potential is obvious but so are the gaps.
So what exactly is Liverpool missing?
π LET'S BREAK IT DOWN.
π΄ 1. LIVERPOOL NEED A PROPER DEFENSIVE FOUNDATION
This is probably the biggest issue.
Liverpool have attacking players capable of winning games, but the team doesn't always look secure when possession is lost.
Iraola wants aggressive football.
He wants pressing.
He wants the full-backs involved.
He wants numbers forward.
But aggressive football requires an equally aggressive defensive structure.
When Liverpool lose the ball, we need players already positioned to stop the counter.
At the moment, there are too many situations where the midfield gets bypassed and the defenders are suddenly exposed.
You cannot play high-risk football without excellent rest defence.
π΄ 2. THE FULL-BACKS ARE A HUGE QUESTION MARK
This is one area where I think Liverpool fans have a legitimate concern.
We need full-backs who can:
β
Defend 1v1
β
Position themselves correctly
β
Win aerial duels
β
Progress the ball
β
Provide width
β
Recover quickly after losing possession
It isn't enough to be good going forward.
And it isn't enough to be a good defender.
Modern full-backs have to do everything.
Liverpool's full-back positions currently don't always give us that complete package.
And when both full-backs push forward, the midfield has to compensate.
If it doesn't, we become extremely vulnerable.
π΄ 3. WE NEED A TRUE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
This is where the Fabinho comparisons come from.
I'm not saying Liverpool need another Fabinho.
But we need someone who understands the position at an elite level.
Someone who knows:
When to press.
When to tackle.
When to slow the game.
When to stay.
When to cover.
When to commit a tactical foul.
Most importantly:
someone who protects the centre-backs.
Gravenberch is an excellent footballer.
Mac Allister is an excellent footballer.
Szoboszlai is an excellent footballer.
But Liverpool need to ask whether the midfield combination gives the defence enough protection.
Because right now, there are moments where the answer is no.
π΄ 4. CHELSEA HAVE SOMETHING LIVERPOOL NEED MORE OF β ATHLETICISM
Look at Chelsea's attacking options.
They can attack space.
They can transition quickly.
They have players capable of carrying the ball over distance.
They can turn a defensive situation into an attacking opportunity within seconds.
Liverpool have quality too, but the team needs more verticality and explosiveness across the entire XI.
This is one reason a player like Bradley Barcola fits the direction Liverpool appear to be taking.
The more players you have who can beat defenders and attack space, the harder you are to defend against.
π΄ 5. BUT DON'T COPY CHELSEA'S DEFENSIVE MODEL
This is important.
Chelsea have scored four against Brighton and created plenty of attacking excitement.
But they also conceded three.
Their defensive issues are still obvious.
So I'm not saying:
βChelsea are perfect and Liverpool need to become Chelsea.β
Absolutely not.
I'm saying Liverpool should look at what Chelsea are doing well while avoiding their weaknesses.
Chelsea have shown that attacking football can create momentum.
Liverpool need to combine that attacking threat with better defensive control.
π΄ 6. LIVERPOOL NEED MORE CONTROL IN MIDFIELD
This is perhaps the biggest tactical difference.
When Liverpool are ahead, can we slow the game down?
Can we keep the ball for five minutes?
Can we force the opponent to chase?
Can we kill the momentum?
Can we protect a 1β0 lead?
These are questions of game management.
Liverpool have players who can play beautiful football.
But title-winning teams also know when NOT to play beautiful football.
Sometimes you need to suffer.
Sometimes you need to control the tempo.
Sometimes you need to win ugly.
π΄ 7. WE NEED MORE LEADERSHIP
This doesn't mean Liverpool don't have leaders.
Van Dijk is a leader.
Alisson is a leader.
Salah was a leader.
But as the squad changes, leadership has to spread across the pitch.
When Liverpool concede, we need somebody immediately saying:
βCalm down. We're still in control.β
When the team starts losing shape:
βDrop.β
When the midfield gets exposed:
βStay.β
When we need to kill the game:
βKeep the ball.β
That communication is incredibly important.
π΄ 8. LIVERPOOL'S ATTACK IS NOT THE PROBLEM
This is where I disagree with some fans.
I don't think Liverpool's biggest problem is creativity.
We've got Wirtz.
We've got Isak.
We've got quality wide players.
We've got attacking depth.
And the expected arrival of Barcola would give Iraola even more explosiveness.
The problem is getting the whole team functioning together.
What's the point of scoring three if we're going to concede three?
What's the point of having 70% possession if the opponent creates the better chances?
What's the point of having five attackers if the midfield can't protect them?
Football is about relationships between the units.
π΄ 9. LIVERPOOL NEED A BETTER BENCH
This is another massive difference between competing and actually winning trophies.
You don't win a 60-game season with 11 players.
You need:
Plan A.
Plan B.
Plan C.
If the opposition sits deep who changes the game?
If we're defending a lead who protects it?
If we're losing who can change the tempo?
If the full-back is struggling who replaces him?
If the DM is suspended who steps in?
Squad depth isn't about having famous names.
It's about having different solutions.
Liverpool still need more of that.
π΄ 10. IRAOLA DOESN'T NEED TO START AGAIN HE NEEDS TIME
This is where I think Liverpool fans need to be patient.
We have to remember that Iraola is trying to change the way this team plays.
The club has gone through significant transition, and Liverpool's new manager has openly acknowledged problems with passive starts and intensity without the ball.
That doesn't mean criticism isn't allowed.
It absolutely is.
But we shouldn't judge the final version of this Liverpool team after two league games.
At the same timeβ¦
Iraola needs to identify the problems quickly.
Because patience doesn't mean ignoring obvious weaknesses.
π₯ SO WHAT DOES LIVERPOOL ACTUALLY NEED?
If I were building this squad specifically for Iraola's football, my priorities would be:
1οΈβ£ ELITE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
Someone who can protect the defence and control transitions.
2οΈβ£ RIGHT-BACK
A complete modern full-back not just an attacking player.
3οΈβ£ LEFT-BACK
Someone reliable defensively and technically capable of contributing in possession.
4οΈβ£ CENTRE-BACK DEPTH
Especially someone athletic enough to defend large spaces.
5οΈβ£ ANOTHER PHYSICAL MIDFIELDER
Someone capable of winning duels and giving Liverpool control when games become physical.
6οΈβ£ MORE SQUAD DEPTH
Different profiles for different types of games.
π§ THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND CHELSEA
It isn't simply:
βChelsea have better players.β
It's that Chelsea currently look more comfortable playing their new manager's football.
Liverpool are still trying to find their identity.
And that's understandable.
Chelsea are also far from perfect their 4β3 win showed that their defence can still be exposed badly.
But Liverpool's challenge is bigger than simply improving individual players.
We need to build a team where every player makes the next player better.
The full-back has to trust the midfielder.
The midfielder has to protect the centre-back.
The winger has to help the full-back.
The striker has to connect with the midfield.
And the entire team has to react together when possession is lost.
That's what we're missing.
π΄ LIVERPOOL DON'T NEED A COMPLETE REBUILD.
WE NEED THE RIGHT BALANCE.
The quality is there.
The money has been spent.
The attacking talent is there.
The manager has an exciting philosophy.
Now we need to turn all of that into a complete football team.
Because Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City won't wait for Liverpool to figure it out.
The question isn't whether Liverpool have enough quality to compete.
The question is whether we have enough balance to win.
π΄ WHAT WOULD YOU SIGN FIRST FOR LIVERPOOL A WORLD-CLASS DM, RB, LB OR CB?
And be honestβ¦
Who do you think is currently the biggest weakness in Liverpool's XI? π
