Matip's pressing efficiency is also significantly lower compared to 19/20. Again, is it because of the open space in front of them that is causing this?
It's a chain reaction as you say - once one player messes up and is beaten, the whole system is compromised.
You have to factor in that sides have figured us out and also that the way some player share being tactically shifted is opening up the gaps.
Sides know that they can play in the channels against us now. We compound it with trent wandering off playing in central areas and then nobody covering. It's a 1 v 1 in effect out wide for matip or konate or gomez etc
The press works with 4 up plus full backs so that ought to be leaving 4 to cover if a side can break out until the team resets.
If the midfielder supposedly pressing is not keita then it doesn't work as well. We want to cover all passing lanes then if it does go wide go hard at the receiver with the full backs and look for throw or win the ball.
If it's easy beat that press as lanes are being left centrally then we just fine that theres gaps everywhere.
The issue is compounded as we dont actually want to keep the ball so much as risk it to gain from playing forward fast or flicking it about etc. If theres not two cms sitting in good positions (aka not ahead of the bloody ball) then theres huge gaps for 2 or 3 to cover.
We are letting in 2 goals a game to decent teams. (Not counted utd in that) it cannot continue.