Liverpool have now lost seven of their last 10 games and it is clear Arne Slot‘s tactics are failing, but the secret to restoring form is not simply reverting to what worked before.After a brief resurgence, Liverpool are once again carrying the tag of crisis club through this international break.Nine months after a stunning 2-0 win at the Etihad, Slot saw his side outclassed at the same venue in a 3-0 defeat.It’s a difficult turnaround to stomach, from the old guard smoothly controlling games to stuttering with an expensive new squad.The two recent good results were largely attributed to the restoration of last season’s lineup, particularly the midfield trio.But while plenty of those champion players remain, Liverpool can’t simply ‘go back to what worked’. What was it that worked? Up, back and through‘Control’ was the watchword in Slot’s debut campaign, but while this conjures up images of slow, sideways passing, that’s not what was on display.Liverpool were masters of controlling tempo. Whether through their use of the ball, high pressing or compact low defending, they dictated the tempo throughout each game, shifting it up and down at will.For example, the 6-3 win at Tottenham saw them race into a 5-1 lead, then slow the game down. But when Spurs pulled things back to 5-3, Liverpool clicked up a gear and grabbed a sixth goal to make the result safe.One of the signature tempo shifts was the use of the ‘up back and through’. The ball would be worked slowly across the back line, encouraging pressure from the opponent.The ball would then be played directly to Mo Salah – who had dropped deep and dragged a defender out – while a teammate would begin to sprint towards the space he’d created.Salah would immediately play back to a teammate……who could then play a through ball to release the runner in space.No matter the opponent, Liverpool always found a way to dictate the tempo and therefore control the game. Trent, Robbo & Gravenberch: How absence has played its partThe loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold has had an obvious impact on Liverpool’s ability to find those progressive passes from deep, but Andy Robertson‘s demotion to the bench also robbed Slot’s side of the league’s second-most progressive passer of last season.While Robertson has performed well since being reinstated, Liverpool’s defence now has a left-sided bias, with two effective ball-players on that side and two players who prefer to carry the ball on the right.We saw against Man City how opponents are happy to funnel the buildup through Ibrahima Konate, expecting that he wouldn’t cause any issues in possession.Even when Virgil van Dijk does get on the ball, his ability to find incisive passes has also been reduced.While Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are both tall, ‘proper’ No. 9s, neither have so far been able to reliably make the ball stick.This was a particular skill of Luis Diaz‘s, who is sorely missed, while Salah and Cody Gakpo are also struggling.Another option for Van Dijk last year was often to thread a ball into Ryan Gravenberch.Opponents would then jump to press him, and he would use his signature turn to roll past his marker, surging into the space they left behind.It meant Liverpool had multiple ways of releasing players into space and therefore raise the tempo – either behind the line (using Salah) or between the lines (using Gravenberch). Teams play differently against LiverpoolWith teams now much less willing to engage with Liverpool high up the pitch, neither of these avenues are available.Gravenberch has dropped in as more of a third centre-back to get on the ball, but this means opponents are in front of him instead of eating his dust.The recruitment this summer was a deliberate move to get ahead of this opposition tactic; for Liverpool to abandon controlling tempo in favour of territorial dominance.In theory Liverpool should be breaking down these compact low blocks, and have signed Florian Wirtz, one of the world’s best playmakers in the final third, and two No. 9s to put away chances.Taking his cues from Paris Saint-Germain, Slot has designed his team to rotate positions fluidly within their attacking structure, in order to confuse opposition markers and create overloads in the box.This should lead to unmarked players at the back post or simple cutback chances.But if that sounds foreign to you, it might be because Liverpool have not created a single goal this season from that approach. Breaking down the low block: Where’s it going wrong?Slot pointed out recently that Liverpool have created more chances than any other team in the league.But that’s not because the approach is working; Liverpool’s goals have largely come from throwing lots of bodies forwards when chasing games late on.The one time someone was free at the back post, it was against 10-man Newcastle.Too often, Liverpool’s attempts to break down low blocks fall apart, with a single loose pass turning into a dangerous breakaway.With so much fluidity within the structure, Liverpool often end up with poorly suited players in defensive positions, and massive amounts of space for opponents to exploit.All of this was on display for Brentford‘s second goal in the 3-2 defeat. Here we see a simple one-two break down……and there’s not an immediate counter-press on the player in possession. Liverpool’s defensive line is too high, meaning Kevin Schade is miles onside when the pass comes……and he keeps his cool to get one-on-one and finish. How do Liverpool fix it?Liverpool were being proactive by changing their game model in the off-season, but this approach of dominating territory allows opponents to dictate the game theme, not Liverpool.They know that Liverpool plan to play this specific way, so they can adapt and force the game to be played on their terms.This effect is usually compounded by Liverpool conceding first.Too often this season Slot’s men have been playing the kind of game their opponents want, while chasing a goal to get back into the game.Liverpool have had some games where they visibly dictated the flow of the game, but almost all in the Champions League: Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid.They won all of these games, but aside from Aston Villa – who played into Liverpool’s hands by sticking to their principles – they have not been able to control opponents in the Premier League.If they want to get their season back on track, Liverpool need to find a game model that not only suits their squad, but also suits the league they play in; one where the team who dictates the flow of the game usually wins.Due to the changing makeup of the squad and the change in opposition approach, Liverpool can’t simply go back to controlling tempo.While they must move away from attempting territorial dominance, the solution must be something new.