Historical Parallels and Recent Slumps
In unusual circumstances at Anfield, Arne Slot sought stability by acknowledging that discussions about his role are typical during tough periods. Just nine weeks prior, Liverpool held a five-point lead in the Premier League, with Slot appearing as the ideal heir to Jurgen Klopp after securing the title in his debut season. Now, echoes of the club’s history emerge: by suffering three consecutive losses by three or more goals, Slot matches a feat last seen under Don Welsh in the 1953-54 relegation campaign.
A more recent managerial change on October 4, a decade since Brendan Rodgers’ dismissal—gains relevance. Liverpool has rarely contemplated such decisions since, thanks to Klopp’s magnetic presence and clear progress, despite uneven patches. Klopp’s triumphs, like the Champions League, cemented his status, and even during poor spells in 2020-21 and 2022-23, attributed to defensive shortages and midfield issues, he demonstrated turnaround ability, ending one with five straight wins and another with seven victories in nine games. Fenway Sports Group (FSG) typically trusted Klopp to resolve crises, as he emphasized after a 4-1 defeat to Napoli.
Current Challenges and Future Prospects
Slot, like Klopp, accepts blame for setbacks, though it’s collective. The challenge is proving he can orchestrate a revival. A streak of nine defeats in 12 includes brief recoveries against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, suggesting improvement, only for rapid declines against Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven at home.
Rather than advancing, performances deteriorated, revealing persistent problems: goals leaked from set-pieces, counters, and mistakes; a ragged appearance when trailing; Mohamed Salah’s tracking deficiencies; Ibrahima Konate’s poor form; and regrets over not signing Marc Guehi instead of Alexander Isak, who remains unfit, effectively leaving the team short-handed. The £125m signing hinders balance, while reliance on last season’s midfield(Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai) fails to prevent heavy losses. Left-back has been problematic all season, with Milos Kerkez often misplaced against PSV, and right-back intermittently so.
Does Slot hold solutions?
Evidence from the past two months is scarce. His win rate remains the highest among Liverpool managers, staying above Bob Paisley’s even after potential further losses. Yet, with Liverpool 12th in the Premier League, Champions League qualification—vital financially—looms large. Pep Guardiola overcame a similar nine-losses-in-12 slump to finish third; could Slot replicate that? He senses support from leadership and feels secure, but FSG’s opaque CEO Michael Edwards complicates certainty. Key might be whether director Richard Hughes and Edwards fault their own lavish summer transfers or Slot’s management. Slot succeeded with Klopp’s squad but falters with his acquisitions, showing few signs of imminent change.
