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Beth Lindop
Multiple Authors
During a ten-minute stretch in the second half at Anfield, a nostalgic feeling permeated the air. The home crowd erupted, waving their scarves to celebrate Dominik Szoboszlai’s magnificent free-kick against Manchester City, momentarily evoking the Liverpool of the previous season, appearing poised to reassert their dominance as Premier League titleholders.
Nevertheless, upon the final whistle, only the visiting City supporters rejoiced, celebrating their club’s unprecedented league double over Liverpool since 1937, secured by crucial late strikes from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland. This outcome was far more reflective of the challenging narrative of the Reds’ current season.
The 2-1 loss suffered by Liverpool against Pep Guardiola’s squad marked their eighth top-flight defeat this campaign. They have secured victory in only six of their most recent twenty league fixtures and are contending with a significant challenge to secure a spot in the upcoming UEFA Champions League, trailing fourth-placed Manchester United by five points.
While several extenuating circumstances contribute to this poor performance, manager Arne Slot cannot ignore the unfavorable statistics. However, his primary concern might be the erosion of the strong belief and loyalty that his predecessor, Jürgen Klopp, meticulously built within the club.
Upon taking charge in 2015, Klopp observed the disaffection among Liverpool supporters and urged them to transition from “skeptics to adherents.” This season, it has frequently seemed as if these wells of conviction, both on the field and in the terraces, have run dry.
Arguably, Slot’s most formidable task currently involves regaining the supporters’ trust. Yet, could it already be beyond his capacity to reverse this trend?
Significant Decline Threatens Champions League Qualification
After Liverpool defeated local adversaries Everton in September, they achieved five consecutive victories in the Premier League. Following an unprecedented summer expenditure, the reigning champions were widely considered the top contenders to retain their title, even though their tendency for late-game wins raised concerns about their long-term viability.
These concerns have, in the end, proven accurate, as Liverpool now finds itself closer in points to the relegation places (16 points) than to the leading team, Arsenal (17 points). For a squad that secured the championship by a ten-point lead last season, this decline has been stark.
Across their last twenty matches, Slot’s squad has accumulated fewer points than eleven other Premier League teams, such as Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Everton. Within this identical period, they have managed only three points more than Nottingham Forest and four more than West Ham United, both teams facing significant relegation threats.
The recent late capitulation against City on Sunday indicates that Liverpool has forfeited eight points during stoppage time this season, a league high. This tendency for poor game conclusions might be less detrimental if the Reds began matches strongly, yet they have only netted three goals within the opening thirty minutes of league matches throughout the entire season, with two of those occurring in a single fixture (the 2-1 victory against Everton in September).
The match against City followed a similar pattern; the visitors controlled the initial half until Liverpool invigorated their play post-interval, deservedly seizing the lead via Szoboszlai in the 74th minute. However, once Silva leveled the score ten minutes subsequent, a distinct feeling of disappointment permeated Anfield, and by the time goalkeeper Alisson Becker unnecessarily fouled Matheus Nunes, conceding a stoppage-time penalty to City, some spectators had already commenced their departure.
In numerous respects, the fixture encapsulated Liverpool’s campaign. Personal mistakes, inadequate team reserves, and contentious refereeing decisions—such as City’s Marc Guéhi avoiding a red card for a last-defender tackle on Mohamed Salah, followed by Szoboszlai’s sending off for impeding Haaland, who was clear on goal—all contributed significantly.
Although certain elements were beyond Slot’s influence, he bears some responsibility for Liverpool’s failure to maintain and impose their superiority, both in isolated matches and throughout the entirety of the season.
Squad Insufficiency Plagues Liverpool Despite Extensive Summer Transfers
A significant problem plaguing Liverpool this season became strikingly evident even before the kickoff against City. Upon the release of the team lineups at Anfield, the clear difference in bench quality was pronounced, with only Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson among Liverpool’s substitutes having commenced four or more league matches this campaign.
In stark contrast, City possessed the luxury of deploying Rayan Cherki, Rúben Dias, and Nathan Aké from their substitutes’ bench, while Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico González remained available but unutilized.
Given Liverpool’s near £450 million summer expenditure, their team appears inadequately prepared for the demands of a Premier League campaign. Nevertheless, it is pertinent to mention that the Reds’ acquisition efforts were partially funded by player departures, with the club recovering a minimum of £258.5 million (potentially increasing to £294.5 million with performance bonuses) under Slot’s management.
Consequently, Liverpool’s reserve strength is arguably diminished compared to the previous season, with key players Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz notably finding it difficult to sustain the necessary performance levels for an entire match.
These difficulties have been exacerbated by numerous significant injuries to pivotal players, such as forward Alexander Isak, who alone represents £125 million of Liverpool’s substantial summer investment. Defensively, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are both out for the remainder of the season due to knee problems, alongside Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong, who are also unavailable.
Given such limited alternatives, the choice to not provide Slot with any new signings in January appears counterintuitive, especially as veteran players like Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Alexis Mac Allister are struggling to recapture their brilliant performances from the previous season.
Despite Liverpool’s physical shortcomings this season, it is equally apparent that mental vulnerabilities have hampered their progress. It would be disingenuous to evaluate the present circumstances at Anfield without recognizing the profound personal tragedy Slot and his squad are enduring.
The profound effect of Diogo Jota’s passing last summer is immeasurable and should not serve as a universal justification for all of Liverpool’s difficulties. Nevertheless, remarks made by vice-captain Robertson following Scotland’s World Cup qualification in November mirrored the emotional distress Slot’s team has experienced recently, and former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher openly discussed last week some of the ongoing challenges his former colleagues are confronting.
Kelleher, who moved to Brentford in the summer, told The Independent: “I perceive it as somewhat peculiar and challenging when individuals comment on Liverpool’s players and their displays, as I believe this season holds little significance for them from a purely footballing perspective. It’s an exceptionally tough period for them, a demanding season, under circumstances that are likely not being adequately considered by many.”
Yet, professional football is an unyielding environment where forbearance and compassion are frequently scarce. Despite all the mitigating factors, Slot understands that his future actions, rather than past achievements, will define his reputation among certain segments of the fanbase.
Slot Grapples with the Legacies of Previous and Prospective Managers
When coaches face scrutiny, discussions frequently center on their alleged loss of control over the locker room. However, forfeiting the support of the fan base can prove just as detrimental to a manager’s prolonged employment stability.
Following the loss against City, a segment of the crowd remained to commend Slot and his team as they exited the field, and the Dutch coach has not yet faced the intense personal hostility witnessed, for instance, by Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank, who is also navigating a challenging season in North London.
On two occasions at Anfield this season—after the 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven and the 1-1 stalemate with Burnley—a small faction of supporters voiced their disapproval with boos at the final whistle. However, the degree of dissatisfaction within the stadium has not yet reached the widespread animosity directed at Slot on social media platforms.
A BBC Sport inquiry in December revealed that Slot, along with then-Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim, was the most frequent recipient of online harassment in men’s premier division football. This intensity of animosity has only escalated in recent times. Sources informed ESPN that the prevailing sentiment at Anfield is that some of the critiques aimed at the manager have been unduly personal and unjust.
Slot, a coach with championship victories, maintains the backing of Liverpool’s top management, despite the significant Champions League defeat to PSV in November raising internal concerns. Last week’s publication of an internal discussion involving Slot, sporting director Richard Hughes, and CEO Billy Hogan was seen by some as a public declaration of support for the Dutch manager, and Liverpool, under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), typically avoids hasty decisions regarding the club’s direction.
Nevertheless, it is undeniable that confidence among the supporters is declining, as many of Liverpool’s displays this season have done little to diminish the increasing indifference felt by those in the stadium.
Klopp’s exceptional talent throughout his nine-year tenure on Merseyside lay in his capacity to utilize Anfield’s ambiance to influence matches in his team’s favor. The fact that Liverpool has already suffered five home defeats this season implies that the fans’ commitment may not be as fervent or absolute as it was during the era of Slot’s forerunner.
In fact, Klopp’s revered standing continues to present additional difficulties for Slot, whose more reserved and direct communication style has been challenging for some supporters to accept. Coupled with the availability of former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso after his exit from Real Madrid, it’s difficult not to perceive Slot as being shadowed by the specters of both former and potential future coaches.
Last month, when questioned about fan criticism, the Liverpool manager stated: “Such is the reality one must accept when not securing enough victories. Even with previous triumphs, there remains space for critique, which is normal to a degree, as we are in a fresh season, and I explicitly instructed the players to ‘put last season behind us.’ I believe it is appropriate to evaluate my performance based on the current season, not the previous one.”
For Slot, the pressure of this scrutiny appears to intensify weekly. Should he fail to promptly revitalize confidence at Anfield, this responsibility might soon become too substantial to bear.
