How Arne Slot’s New Formation Helped Liverpool Beat Inter Milan — and What It Means for Mo Salah

Liverpool manager Arne Slot tried something different on Tuesday night — and it came up trumps as his side won 1-0 away at Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League.

With Mo Salah left out of the squad to face Inter — after publicly claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” and that he had “no relationship with the manager” — Slot selected a team without any wide attacking players at the San Siro.

Liverpool use 4-1-2-1-2 formation against Inter Milan

The Reds started with a back four, while Ryan Gravenberch was the anchor man in a narrow midfield four that also included Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, who played at times in the No 10 role.

In attack, Slot started summer signings Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak together for only the second time this season.

Did Arne Slot’s new formation work well?

The result would certainly suggest that Slot’s tactical changes were successful. After conceding three or more goals against Leeds, PSV Eindhoven, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City in recent weeks, Liverpool kept an impressive clean sheet against the leading scorers in Italy’s Serie A.

Gravenberch was exceptional in front of the back four, but the whole team contributed to a solid defensive display.

The new system passed the eye test too. With Jones as the heartbeat in midfield, Liverpool kept the ball well, while passing quicker and with more intent.

Ultimately, there was a little luck around the goal Liverpool scored. The penalty awarded following a VAR review probably would not have been given in the Premier League.

Did Mo Salah’s outburst prompt Slot’s tactical change?

The Liverpool boss needed to change something after his team’s poor recent run of results.

However, when asked pre-match about how his starting XI would line up structurally, Slot suggested that the move to a 4-1-2-1-2 formation was down to a lack of options as much as anything else.

Salah was not the only wide man who missed Tuesday’s game. Cody Gakpo was unavailable with an injury, while Federico Chiesa missed out through illness.

Slot explained before kick-off in the San Siro: “The thinking is that at this moment in time I have 13 outfield players with Premier League or Champions League experience available.”

Slot added: “Florian Wirtz came back with an injury from the German national team, had to play three games in seven days, now the fourth one in 10 days is coming up.

“So the thinking behind the lineup is there are not so many available, and in my opinion, if you don’t have wingers available — apart from Rio, who’s very young — it’s the most logical thing to do to play with two No 9s.”

Hugo Ekitike looks sharper than Alexander Isak

Of Liverpool’s two No 9s, Hugo Ekitike was by far the more impressive on Tuesday. He recorded three times as many shots as Isak, while the Frenchman also looked far more likely to create opportunities for his teammates.

Ekitike completed five progressive dribbles and played two key passes, while Isak did none of either.

Will Slot stick with his new formation?

It could certainly make sense for Liverpool to line up in a 4-1-2-1-2 formation again when they host Brighton on Saturday.

The new shape might not suit Salah, who has developed into arguably the best left-footed right flanker in the world in recent years. But it could be perfect for Wirtz, who has the potential to thrive behind two central strikers.

Meanwhile, trying to build some familiarity between fellow summer signings Isak and Ekitike — who arrived at Anfield as part of a £446.5 million overall spend in a record-breaking Premier League transfer window — could eventually pay dividends.