Could the FA Cup Be the...

While Liverpool’s defense of their Premier League title may have faltered months ago, there remains a glimmer of hope for salvaging their season.

After suffering a heartbreaking last-minute loss to Wolves, which left them in sixth place in the standings, Arne Slot’s squad returned to Molineux with a coveted FA Cup quarter-final berth at stake.

Goals from Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah, and Curtis Jones propelled them to a convincing 3-1 victory.

With a Champions League round-of-16 clash against Galatasaray on the horizon, starting with Tuesday’s first leg in Turkey, there is still much to play for.

“Slot has a wonderful opportunity to achieve something special,” remarked former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy on BBC One. “Although it seems unlikely given their inconsistency, he must remain positive and filter out the distractions. There’s significant scrutiny from both fans and media, and he needs to maintain his composure.”

“In the next six to eight weeks, we’ll have a clearer picture of Liverpool’s trajectory,” he added.

The scrutiny has been intense. Slot acknowledged last month that this has been the toughest season of his career, claiming it has been “by a mile,” despite a £450 million summer spending spree not translating into desired performances or outcomes.

After their victory over Wolves, captain Virgil van Dijk admitted the current campaign has been “very difficult for many reasons.” He emphasized: “The FA Cup holds significant importance for us—always has, but especially this season. We aim to continue our progress.”

“Winning silverware is our ultimate goal. I’ve been fortunate to experience numerous memorable nights with this great club, and that’s what we strive for.”

‘This is a realistic competition for Liverpool to win’

Since replacing Jurgen Klopp, Slot enjoyed a successful first season capped with a title win, but this year has presented more formidable challenges. They currently trail leaders Arsenal by 19 points and are outside the top five on goal difference with nine games left in the season.

Between September and December, nine losses in 12 matches severely hindered their league and Carabao Cup aspirations. However, Slot’s team has since only lost three out of their last 23 matches.

Murphy, who made 249 appearances for Liverpool, asserts that Slot will need to secure either the FA Cup or the Champions League to retain his position.

“Only two out of the five new signings have performed well. Among the players from last season, only one or two have reached expected standards. That’s not enough,” he noted.

“Numerous factors contributed to this unforeseen drop-off. The focus now should be on rebuilding, fighting back, and achieving success—preferably through winning a cup.

“The Champions League will be a tougher challenge; the FA Cup is a more realistic target for Liverpool. At the top level, even during a disappointing season, winning something is expected from Liverpool.”

“For Slot, achieving a positive outcome is essential to potentially keep him in his role.”

Experienced players shine while young talent impresses

During the match against Wolves, it was the experienced players who delivered for Slot, with Salah, Robertson, and Jones leading Liverpool to victory.

Salah’s earlier criticism of the club intensified after he felt he was “thrown under the bus” during a December interview.

Following his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations, where Egypt was eliminated by Senegal in the semi-finals, Salah returned with four goals in 11 matches.

However, he hasn’t yet reached the heights of last season, in which he netted 34 goals as Liverpool claimed their second Premier League title.

While he had a quiet first half at Molineux, he added Liverpool’s second goal, benefiting from a quality cross from Robertson.

Although the tension between Salah and the club appears to be easing, every goal he scores could be his last in a highly decorated career at Anfield.

Robertson, who is having a rare starting season, also contributed with a goal despite considering a move to Tottenham in January. The Scotland international proved his reliability, as did Jones, who continues to deliver.

At just 25, Jones has made 215 appearances for Liverpool, proving to be a valuable asset for both Klopp and Slot amidst expensive signings.

This situation allows young talent like 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha to learn from seasoned players, having made the fourth start of his career.

“It’s remarkable to see a 17-year-old impact the game with his impressive one-on-one skills,” Slot remarked. “He has improved since three days ago, maintaining possession better during this match. Today showed a nice moment where he utilized his energy effectively in attack.”

Could the FA Cup Be the…