While popular beliefs and established wisdom can be valid, it’s essential to approach them with skepticism. For instance, Occam’s razor posits that the simplest explanation is often the correct one. However, the historical figure behind Occam’s razor, a 14th-century Franciscan monk from the village of Ockham near Chelsea‘s training ground, lived in an era devoid of modern sports like football, so this principle should be taken with caution.
Let’s explore some of the trending narratives in football and evaluate their accuracy.
‘Liverpool‘s disappointing early-season results stem from decisions made during the transfer window’
Indeed, Liverpool’s struggles are not solely attributed to their three consecutive away defeats against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and Chelsea. It’s also evident in their six straight victories, which, while successful, lacked conviction—winning through last-minute goals does not constitute a solid strategy. The Liverpool team of the 2025-26 season seems to differ significantly from the 2024-25 squad that clinched the Premier League title by April.
What has changed? The squad itself. Liverpool parted ways with key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Díaz, and Darwin Núñez in the recent transfer window, while bringing in several new players: two promising fullbacks (Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong), two new strikers (Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak), and Florian Wirtz, a standout talent around whom to build the team.
– O’Hanlon: Should Liverpool be concerned about Salah’s form?
Typically, teams that dominate a league and secure a title with ease do not overhaul their roster by adding five starter-level players simultaneously. It’s a rare occurrence, and for good reason—it can be profoundly disruptive.
This disruption intensifies when your record signing (Isak) arrives on the transfer window’s final day, and when the new left back (Kerkez) is a completely different player from his predecessor, as is the right back (Frimpong) in relation to Alexander-Arnold, who was uniquely skilled. As such, Arne Slot has attempted to modify Dominik Szoboszlai‘s role to fit a new system despite his prior experience at Bayer Leverkusen.
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Nicol: Mo Salah is facing a confidence crisis
Steve Nicol argues that Mo Salah appears to be experiencing a crisis of confidence this season, continuing to struggle against Chelsea.
The need to revamp their squad arose from various factors, and Liverpool seized the opportunity to incorporate several exceptional players likely to enhance the team in the long run. However, football is a team game, and it can take time for new players, regardless of their talent, to mesh together—a luxury Slot hasn’t had.
Verdict: CORRECT
‘Ruben Amorim must be adaptable and not overly rigid with his 3-4-2-1 system’
There’s no denying that Manchester United has struggled under the 3-4-2-1 formation. Amorim’s performance, after fifty games, marks the poorest results of any manager since the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. It raises the question of whether they might fare better with a more conventional system that would better fit their available players.
However, Amorim was brought in specifically to implement the 3-4-2-1 system—his approach at Sporting CP was what earned him the role at Manchester United. If a change in tactics is deemed necessary, it would make more sense to replace the manager entirely.
Investing heavily in Amorim, following up with substantial summer signings tailored for his strategies, and then instructing him to abandon his winning formula is akin to hiring a renowned chef for a wedding and demanding he perform a different genre of music mid-set because the guests aren’t enjoying the performance. The outcome would likely be lackluster, and more importantly, you wouldn’t even need that chef for such a shift.
Therefore, if you plan to abandon Amorim’s system, you should also part ways with him as manager. If not, it’s best to maintain a commitment to the system for as long as possible before making changes.
Verdict: INCORRECT
‘Barcelona‘s high defensive line poses a significant issue’
While I may not prefer this tactic, it’s important to acknowledge that Barcelona achieved a domestic Double and nearly reached the Champions League final playing this way. (With hindsight, had Lamine Yamal opted to maintain possession in the corner rather than attempting a risky shot that led to a decisive counter-attack, the outcome could very well be different.)
The issue for Barcelona does not lie in their strategy—it has proven successful for coaches like Hansi Flick. Instead, the challenge arises from execution and player suitability. To make this style work effectively, attackers must exert coordinated pressure at specific intervals; failure to do so allows opponents a straightforward opportunity to exploit the space behind the defense, resulting in swift counterattacks. Recently, Barcelona has struggled with this and faced significant repercussions in games versus Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain.
2:05
Hislop: Barcelona is missing a backup plan
Shaka Hislop and Alejandro Moreno analyze Barcelona’s 4-1 defeat to Sevilla and question Hansi Flick’s lack of a backup strategy.
The other significant factor is player capabilities. A high defensive line demands a lot from defenders, particularly center-backs, who must handle immense space and often retreat towards their goal while defending. Both tasks are challenging and mentally exhausting, leading to mistakes that can be costly.
Ideally, exceptional defenders in their prime would fill these roles, but that’s not the current reality for Barcelona. Pau Cubarsí is their standout defender, yet he’s still just 18. Historically, few teenagers have made their mark at the highest level—how many can you name besides Paolo Maldini who played pivotal defensive roles in a Champions League-winning team? And remember, Maldini wasn’t even a center-back at that age; he relied on the experienced Franco Baresi to lead the backline.
– Hunter: Barcelona’s decline has been brewing for months
Barcelona’s other center-backs include Ronald Araújo (who has experienced a decline over the past two years), Eric García (a utility player by nature), and the often-injured Andreas Christensen, who only had two league starts last season. It’s unlikely that any of these players would rank among the top 50 center-backs based on capability.
It’s amusing how a high line can look much more effective when the forwards are performing optimally, and when the defensive line possesses skills that match those of the attacking players.
Verdict: INCORRECT
‘Arsenal made a wise choice by adding depth to their squad, now positioning themselves as contenders for silverware both domestically and in Europe’
You might not have been paying attention, but Arsenal has already made a significant challenge this past season, reaching the Champions League semifinals and finishing runner-up in the Premier League. Their inability to go further can likely be traced back to a critical decision during the January transfer window.
With Gabriel Jesus sidelined for the season, Kai Havertz became their only available center-forward. When they failed to secure Ollie Watkins in January, they neglected to acquire additional attacking resources, which proved detrimental. Shortly after the transfer window closed, Havertz sustained an injury, leaving them with limited options.
1:46
How Arsenal appeared ‘flawless’ in their victory against West Ham
Don Hutchison and Julien Laurens assess Arsenal’s recent Premier League triumph over West Ham.
This past summer, Arsenal strengthened their lineup by securing the talents of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, and Piero Hincapié. Now, they have credible options throughout their squad. In fact, Arsenal’s second team could likely compete for a Champions League spot.
So, they’ve improved by eliminating the need to rely on Mikel Merino to play center forward or having Ethan Nwaneri fill in for Bukayo Saka, whose skill set differs entirely. Additionally, with Gyökeres joining the squad, Havertz will no longer need to shoulder the load of playing every game.
However, there is a caveat: Mikel Arteta’s success so far has been based on team chemistry and consistency. Introducing new players can disrupt this harmony. Managing a larger squad full of aspiring starters requires a different approach that Arteta may need time to master.
If last season, he was the chef with a limited selection of high-quality ingredients creating a delicious dish repeatedly, he now has a broader selection of ingredients, necessitating a more varied cooking style.