Liverpool Are In Crisis. Can Slot Pull Them Out?

   

    Since beating Everton in September at Anfield, Arne Slot’s side have only won five games in all competitions, losing the other nine. So what exactly is going wrong at Anfield right now? We’re going to take a deeper dive into why Liverpool are struggling, what needs to change, and whether Arne Slot is the right man to turn it around.

Liverpool may have opened the season with six wins from six, but the warning signs were already there. While they had no trouble scoring goals, they looked vulnerable defensively — conceding seven goals in those opening fixtures and keeping only two clean sheets.

So why are Liverpool struggling defensively?

    Significant structural and personnel changes have disrupted the foundations that made them successful last season. Fans spent most of last year demanding a new left-back, but the man they targeted — Milos Kerkez — has yet to live up to expectations. However, much of that isn’t down to him.

    Kerkez thrives when he has space to run into and can contribute to attacks — something he showed clearly at Bournemouth. This season, Slot has used him more as a third centre-back in possession, putting greater emphasis on defensive duties. That’s a role which does not suit his strengths, nor is he defensively superior to Andy Robertson, the player many wanted him to replace. Against West Ham, for example, Joe Gomez — a centre-back playing at right-back — was allowed to advance while Kerkez held his position deep. It also doesn’t help that Cody Gakpo often overlooks Kerkez’s overlapping runs — one of his best attacking weapons.

    But Kerkez isn’t the only summer signing struggling to make a positive impact. Hugo Ekitike started brightly, yet his goals have since dried up. Florian Wirtz, who excelled in space on the left for Bayer Leverkusen, has been pushed into a central attacking role. There, he’s required to track back far more — something Dominik Szoboszlai does relentlessly, but not something Wirtz is built for. The issue is worsened by Mohamed Salah’s exemption from tracking back; a team can’t afford to carry two attackers defensively. Unsurprisingly, Wirtz has looked far more effective when Salah isn’t on the pitch — such as against Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham.

    Jeremie Frimpong is another player without a clearly defined role — he is not a natural right-back and is still being fit into the system. Alexander Isak has struggled with injuries and fitness, leaving him far from the form he showed at Newcastle. Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury has ended his season before it really began. And although Giorgi Mamardashvili isn’t directly responsible for the number of goals conceded, he’s found it hard to make a positive impression under such defensive instability.

Managerial Issues — Tactics Under Scrutiny

The problems at Liverpool do not lie solely with the players. There are also serious concerns regarding the manager. Arne Slot arrived with little expectation of defending the Premier League title last season, but now — having made several signings of his own — he doesn’t appear to be getting the best out of them.

Where Jürgen Klopp built his Liverpool side on high-tempo transitions and aggressive pressing, Slot prefers a more controlled possession style. It worked to significant effect last season, but this year, Liverpool has struggled to dominate the ball and create chances through its slower style of build-up. Opponents can drop into compact defensive blocks, and Liverpool currently lacks the creativity and intensity to break them down — something that seemed unthinkable when Florian Wirtz arrived.

This slower approach also leaves Liverpool badly exposed on the counter. With so many players pushed high up the pitch, a single turnover followed by a direct pass has repeatedly exposed the Reds, and opposition sides have ruthlessly exploited this weakness.

Klopp’s Liverpool created width and chaos with flying full-backs, but Slot’s team are failing to generate the same space in wide areas. The current midfield setup is overcrowded and offers little defensive cover. Against PSV, for example, their second goal came from a situation where neither of Liverpool’s midfielders naturally recognised the danger — a role someone like Wataru Endo, a true No.6, would have understood intuitively.

Despite investing over £400 million in the summer, very little was spent on genuine defensive upgrades. Both new full-backs are more attack-minded, and the only centre-back signed was an 18-year-old, who, even before his ACL injury, could never have been expected to start every match. Liverpool now has just three fit senior centre-backs, and while Slot has suggested players like Ryan Gravenberch or Wataru Endo could fill in there, no fan wants them playing that role unless absolutely necessary. This suggests a lack of foresight on the part of both recruitment and coaching staff.

There are also signs of favouritism. Some players continue to start or stay on the pitch despite poor performances. Federico Chiesa, adored by supporters for his energy and end product, has too often been restricted to late cameos — entering only when Liverpool are already chasing a game. Meanwhile, others are given chance after chance despite contributing very little.

What Needs to Change?

Dominik Szoboszlai has demonstrated that he can still be the trigger for Liverpool’s press — as he was against West Ham — helping the team regain possession in dangerous areas. Slot must show the courage to consistently drop Mohamed Salah when the system demands it. Liverpool looked noticeably more fluid and united without him at West Ham.

He must also be ruthless in his squad selection. Choosing Alexander Isak over Hugo Ekitike against Nottingham Forest — even though the Frenchman had just come off a strong international break — was a decision that showed loyalty instead of logic.

Right now, there is an evident lack of identity. Slot must implement a structure that fits the strengths of his players. The squad is talented enough, even during this rough spell, to play cohesive and exciting football. We have seen glimpses of it.

Is Arne Slot the Right Man?

Slot does have strong footballing principles. He isn’t trying to copy Klopp — but perhaps in trying to distance himself from those ideas, he has pushed too far the other way. His attacking philosophy is clear, but he often implements it too late in games, when Liverpool are already desperate.

He has a proven track record of developing players. He revitalised Orkun Kökçü at Feyenoord and turned Ryan Gravenberch into a key midfielder last season, improving his defensive capabilities and helping Liverpool lift the title.

But his shortcomings are equally visible. His reluctance to drop struggling players is worrying — no individual should have that much power in a dressing room. While he prefers a smaller squad, a club competing on multiple fronts simply cannot afford to do so. Poor defensive investment has left Liverpool short of depth, and Slot has struggled to compensate tactically.

Liverpool has also regressed against the league’s elite. Last season, they dominated the top six — but this season they look fragile and uninventive in those fixtures. The departure of John Heitinga appears to have significantly hurt the coaching setup, removing a Premier League–savvy defensive voice who served them well.

Final Thoughts

Arne Slot can be the man to turn Liverpool’s fortunes around. He possesses the intelligence, ideas, and ability to develop players. But recovery will require bold decisions — and the question Liverpool fans are now asking is:

Does he have the courage to make them?