-
Beth Lindop
A brief 12-second moment encapsulated the turmoil of Liverpool’s season. In search of a late goal against Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday night, Florian Wirtz sent a hopeful ball into the box, only for it to deflect off Ibrahima Konaté‘s head and end up in the hands of Robin Roefs.
The Sunderland keeper quickly launched a counter-attack, releasing Wilson Isidor, who broke from his half towards Liverpool’s goal. Just when it seemed a goal was imminent, substitute Federico Chiesa appeared to deflect Isidor’s shot away, saving Liverpool from a humiliating 10th defeat in 14 matches across all competitions.
However, while Chiesa’s intervention might have staved off an even bigger crisis for Liverpool, the 1-1 draw against Sunderland reflected a disturbing reality for head coach Arne Slot, offering little evidence that he has found solutions to his team’s alarming struggles.
Not long ago, the Dutch manager was being praised as the modern equivalent of legendary Liverpool figure Bob Paisley, who created an empire at Anfield after succeeding bill Shankly in the 1970s. Recently, though, Slot has faced comparisons to Roy Hodgson, whose disastrous reign lasted just 31 matches before he was dismissed in the 2010-2011 season.
Such comparisons may seem overstated given Slot’s history of success, including a title-winning season, yet it’s hard to overlook the dire state of affairs for the 47-year-old. After winning the Premier League with ease last season and spending a record £450 million during the summer transfer window, many expected Slot’s squad to be the frontrunners for the title once again. However, with a third of the season now gone, Liverpool’s efforts to retain their championship are becoming increasingly untenable, leaving Slot under unprecedented pressure in his managerial career.
PSV defeat a critical moment
Following Liverpool’s disastrous 4-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League last week, calls for Slot’s termination intensified.
Despite the mounting pressure, Slot remained composed in subsequent press interactions, claiming he still had backing from Liverpool’s higher-ups, including sporting director Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, CEO of Fenway Sports Group (FSG).
“The conversations have remained the same since I arrived,” he stated at a news conference last Friday. “We fight on, aiming for improvement, which is our collective objective.”
However, one source informed ESPN that the loss against PSV marked a “breaking point moment” for several within the club, raising concerns that had not surfaced prior to what has been a string of poor performances.
Understanding that Liverpool has traditionally not been quick to sack managers, there is also recognition that the current slump extends beyond Slot’s legacy. Even amid this difficult period, his 63% win rate remains the highest of any manager in the club’s history, positioning him as only the second Reds manager in the Premier League to win the title.
During the process of selecting Jurgen Klopp’s successor in spring 2024, the club compiled an extensive analysis emphasizing Slot as their prime candidate. Their painstaking research paid off when he led Liverpool to the title in his first season. However, with only four wins from the last 14 games, he seems to have lost his touch.
Last night’s draw with Sunderland marked the first time Liverpool had failed to win three consecutive games at Anfield since March 2021, during a time of eight matches without victory amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The current situation, with fans present, is alarming, although Slot dismissed any suggestion that Anfield has lost its intimidating aura.
“No, certainly not Anfield. However, teams now believe they can achieve a positive result against us,” he remarked. “That’s been evident this season. Even in our victories, the struggles we faced have instilled confidence in opposing teams.”
Indeed, Slot’s greater concern should be the scarcity of convincing performances this season rather than just the results themselves.
On Wednesday, he acknowledged anticipation for Sunderland’s approach, yet his team managed just four shots on target from 23 attempts, with the opposition goalkeeper largely unchallenged.
The most damning feedback came from Le Bris, the Sunderland manager, who remarked that he was surprised by Liverpool’s passive and uninspired performance. “We controlled the game more than we anticipated,” he noted, encouraging his players to believe a goal was possible.
With Liverpool’s lackluster showing only serving to boost opponents’ confidence, the champions’ once-formidable presence has significantly diminished, along with the perception of their head coach.
Slot not solely accountable for Liverpool’s struggles
While Liverpool’s disappointing form has raised valid concerns, attributing the entirety of the blame to Slot would be misleading.
Even after substantial summer investments, the squad struggles with depth and not matching the collective leadership seen in contenders like Arsenal. The failed deadline day deal for Crystal Palace‘s Marc Guéhi appears increasingly damaging, as both Konaté and captain Virgil van Dijk have not performed at their best this season, compounded by new signing Giovanni Leoni being sidelined by injury.
ESPN sources revealed that Liverpool’s offer of £35 million for Guehi was initially accepted, with the player allowed to undergo a medical, before Palace forfeited the deal due to their inability to find a replacement. Had Liverpool acted sooner in the transfer window, this situation might have been avoided.
In terms of attacking options, Liverpool appears to lack the necessary pace and creativity on the flanks, especially following the departure of Luis Díaz for €75 million, who has made an immediate impact at Bayern Munich this season. Initially, Liverpool resisted offers, including one from Barcelona, before ultimately accepting Bayern’s bid.
Despite sources indicating that Díaz was eager to find a new challenge, the choice not to secure a direct replacement is proving detrimental to Liverpool’s fortunes.
The club believed that adding another seasoned left winger might block the path for talented teenager Rio Ngumoha. While he showed promise when securing a late win in a match against Newcastle United, his minimal playing time since suggests he isn’t quite ready for prime time.
Attacking challenges would be mitigated if striker Alexander Isak had adapted quickly to life at Liverpool following his contentious £125 million transfer from Newcastle. Unfortunately, he has struggled with both fitness and form, netting only twice in 12 matches.
Some have compared his struggles to that of Fernando Torres, whose own transfer from Liverpool to Chelsea was fraught with initial difficulties. Historical data underscores that strikers often fail to recover from poor initial seasons at new clubs, although there are exceptions like Roberto Firmino.
Amid these performance challenges, it’s also crucial to acknowledge the emotional weight on Slot and the squad following the tragic death of talented forward Diogo Jota last summer. Although the team does not use this as an excuse, it’s likely impacted the squad’s mentality and overall performance.
Notably, Mohamed Salah and defender Andy Robertson displayed visible distress following Jota’s passing, indicating the emotional toll on the team.
While this context doesn’t absolve Slot or his players from the responsibility of their performance, it complicates discussions regarding Slot’s future.
Crucial week ahead for Slot
As Liverpool prepares for a match against West Ham United this Sunday, former defender Jamie Carragher articulated that Slot has “a week to save his job.”
In his opinion piece in The Daily Telegraph, Carragher emphasized that failing to achieve seven points in their next three games would render the situation untenable.
While Carragher isn’t the definitive voice within the club, his assertion holds weight; the upcoming fixtures against West Ham, Sunderland, and Leeds United present Liverpool an opportunity to regain momentum.
A win over Leeds would allow Liverpool to reach that crucial seven-point mark and possibly alleviate some pressure, at least ahead of the challenging Champions League match against Inter Milan next Tuesday.
Though Anfield displayed some discontent during the draw against Sunderland, it was not as vocal as the criticism that followed the PSV loss. Supporters voiced their support for Slot during the West Ham match and while Liverpool took an early lead against Nuno Espirito Santo’s team.
This backing is likely to continue when Liverpool faces Leeds, particularly since the opposition is riding high after a convincing win over Chelsea. Yet if Slot doesn’t find the answers necessary for a turnaround, even his staunchest advocates may be forced to reconsider their stance.
ESPN’s Mark Ogden also contributed to this report.