Liverpool’s 'Control' is a Myth: The Tactical Trap at Bournemouth

Let’s stop pretending, shall we? The narrative around Arne Slot’s Liverpool has been remarkably polite this month. "They control the game," the pundits say. "The goals will come," the data analysts assure us, pointing to underlying metrics that look prettier than a heat map on a PowerPoint slide. But here we are, January 2026, and the Reds have drawn four league games in a row. That’s not bad luck (bad luck lasts a week). That’s a systemic flaw.

As they head to the Vitality Stadium to face Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, we are being sold a "clash of styles." In reality, it’s a collision of two broken philosophies.

The "Control" Fetish

Arne Slot was brought in to civilize the chaos left by Jürgen Klopp. And he has. Liverpool now completes more passes, keeps the ball longer, and sustains attacks with a calmness that borders on the sedative. But at what cost? The "heavy metal" football has been replaced by smooth jazz—technically proficient, but incapable of waking anyone up.

The issue isn't possession; it's where that possession happens. Against low blocks like Burnley and Leeds recently, Liverpool’s center-backs had more touches than their strikers. They are suffocating opponents, yes, but they are also suffocating their own unpredictability.

This table isn't just a stat sheet; it's an indictment. You don't get points for passing completion percentage. If you did, Slot would have the league wrapped up by Christmas.

Iraola’s Running Man Challenge

Across the pitch, we have the opposite problem. Bournemouth is the league's frantic teenager—lots of energy, zero emotional regulation. Andoni Iraola’s reputation as a pressing guru is intact, but his defense is in tatters. They run. God, do they run. They top the charts for sprints and high turnovers. But look at the table: 15th place.

Why? Because intensity without structure is just cardio. Bournemouth’s high line is so easily bypassed that it’s become a running joke for opposition analysts. They press high, leave gaps the size of the Mersey Tunnel behind their midfield, and then act surprised when they concede three goals on the break.

"Bournemouth defends like they think they’re playing a video game where you can just hold the sprint button down for 90 minutes. In the Premier League, that’s suicide."

With key injuries to players like Marcus Tavernier, Iraola is doubling down on a system he doesn't have the personnel to execute. It’s not "brave"; it’s stubborn.

The Tactical Deadlock

So, what happens when the Unstoppable Passer meets the Immovable Runner? Likely, a mess. Liverpool will camp in Bournemouth’s half, circulating the ball in that dreaded "horseshoe" shape, waiting for an opening that Iraola’s chaos might accidentally provide. Bournemouth will try to force turnovers, but Liverpool’s setup is designed specifically to kill transitions before they start.

The danger for Liverpool isn’t losing the tactical battle; it’s winning it on paper while losing it on the scoreboard. A 1-1 draw where the Reds have 75% possession and an xG of 2.4 vs 0.3? We’ve seen that movie four times this month. It’s boring, it’s predictable, and it’s costing them the season.

Slot needs to realize that sometimes, a little chaos is a good thing. And Iraola needs to learn that you can’t press your way out of a relegation battle if your defenders can’t track a runner.

Don't expect a classic. Expect a tactical autopsy.