A turbulent fortnight has left Liverpool in uncharted territory. Arne Slot’s team has hit an alarming losing streak that leaves the champion at serious risk of being out of the competition.
After successive defeats against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford, the Dutchman is already under pressure.
The defending champions sit seven points behind league leaders Arsenal and while there is still a long way to go, the momentum that carried them through the opening months of the campaign has suddenly faded.
It is a worrying situation and something former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has dubbed “crisis mode”.
He said: “Seeing the champions lose 4 games in a row in the Premier League with the summer expenses, I think we are in a moment of crisis for Liverpool at the moment.”
This period certainly marks the most difficult stretch for Slot since taking over from Jurgen Klopp. The former Feyenoord boss has seen his chances of being sacked reduced over the weekend and now faces a decisive period.
There is still hope that the Reds can rediscover the formidable form that took them to the title last season. But there is a lot that needs to be improved.
Here are five key areas the manager must address to turn around Liverpool’s season.
Solve the Salah riddle
Perhaps the most worrying aspect of Liverpool’s decline is the form of their talisman, Mohamed Salah. After a sensational 34-goal campaign last season, the Egyptian has struggled to reach his usual heights. His goal production has decreased, his xG ranking has plummeted and his involvement in dangerous areas has decreased noticeably.
Part of this is due to structural changes. The departure of Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez has altered the dynamics of Liverpool’s first line. With the newcomers still adjusting, Salah has often been isolated on the flanks, unable to exploit the central areas where he is most effective.
The manager must modify his attacking plan to bring Salah closer to goal, either by reducing his starting position or instructing the right-back to overlap more aggressively. Salah’s instincts have not diminished; You simply need the system to work in your favor.
Unlock Wirtz’s Potential
Few signings generated as much excitement as the £116 million arrival of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Considered one of the most creative midfielders in Europe, the German playmaker was expected to add something special to the attack.
However, so far its impact has been limited. Wirtz has shown flashes of brilliance, but has yet to stamp his authority on games. A lot of that comes down to adaptation. The intensity of the Premier League is a world away from the Bundesliga.
Slot has experimented with Wirtz’s positioning, even using him on the left against Crystal Palace, but the results were inconclusive. His natural instinct to move towards the center can congest spaces and stifle Liverpool’s fluidity, especially against compact defensive setups.
To get the best out of Wirtz, Slot must devise a system that balances freedom with structure, allowing him to create without compromising midfield stability. If the manager can find that balance, Wirtz could yet become the creative spark that reignites Liverpool’s title challenge.
Get Isak fired
Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak has the potential to transform the team’s offensive production, but he has not yet done so. The Swedish striker arrived late in the summer window after a long departure from Newcastle, and his lack of pre-season preparation shows.
His technical quality is undeniable (intelligent movements, skillful play combinations and composure in front of goal), but he still lacks the physical advantage necessary for Slot’s high-tempo system.
Now that the defending champions must win every game, getting Isak back to peak condition could be decisive. And perhaps most importantly, find a balance in attack between him and Hugo Ekitike.
The young Frenchman also arrived at Anfield in the summer and has so far outperformed his Swedish teammate.
As a result, Isak has been demoted to the bench more times than he would like, which has also affected his match acumen.
Decide on pairs of laterals
Slot’s rebuild at Liverpool began with a significant investment in the full-back positions. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez arrived for a combined fee of around £70m, while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid completely overhauled the defensive structure.
However, two months into the campaign, there is still uncertainty over who Liverpool’s first-choice full-backs really are. On the left, Kerkez initially appeared to get ahead of Andy Robertson, starting most of the early games.
But the young Hungarian’s rawness has been shown: his decision-making under pressure has been erratic, and a costly first-half substitution at Burnley highlighted his continued adaptation to life at a club with Liverpool’s expectations.
Meanwhile, Robertson remains a model pro, but he is no longer the untouchable starter he once was. His experience is invaluable, however, moments such as his mistake against Chelsea, which allowed Estevao Willian to score the winner in added time, have underlined that not even veterans are immune to scrutiny.
On the right, Conor Bradley has started more league games than Frimpong, although neither has yet developed the consistency that Slot needs.
