Last season was fantastic for Liverpool FC. A new manager came in, settled in very well, and even guided the club to its 20th League title and 2nd Premier League title. Nobody gave them a chance to finish 4th in the league last season, but they surprised everyone. After Jurgen Klopp left, everyone thought that Liverpool would struggle, but new manager Arne Slot came and conquered the league in his first season. But this season, the story is not going smoothly for Arne. Recently, they have lost 4 games in a row in the Premier League. In this blog, I will tell you how Liverpool FC can really recover from this miserable run, and Arne can keep his job at Liverpool.
The Downfall:
When they won the league last season, while nobody was expecting it, this raises the bar for Arne Slot’s Liverpool. In my opinion, this achievement of Arne Slot has proved to be his biggest enemy. Winning the league was great for the supporters and the club, but it also came with more lofty ambitions for this season. From the start of the season, Liverpool looked shaky, they leaked goals and scored the winning goals after the 90th minute. This raises concerns, fans and pundits started to look nervous. While still winning matches, they never looked comfortable.
But after losing to Crystal Palace, and ironically, in their own fashion, meaning Palace defeated Liverpool by 2-1, and scoring at the 97th minute. After this defeat, Liverpool never looked the same, teams understood how they played, and teams used Long-balls tactics against them. This proved immensely difficult for Liverpool FC to win duels and win second balls, and this also made their press useless. The downfall of Liverpool started with using the same tactics again and again. This worked last season, because Slot’s tactics were new and the team was settled, but this season, teams have unlocked the style of playing of Liverpool and have hurt them. And for the players, I am coming to that now.
Did New Signings Weaken Liverpool?
After winning the league title last season, everyone hoped for another successful season for Liverpool this time around, but as we see, things are not going well at all for them. Fans were hyped, pundits were praising them, and bookies made them favorites to lift the 21st League title this season. But, everything came falling down, and many have questioned Arne Slot’s tactics and playing style first, but in my opinion, new signings haven’t made this Liverpool side better at all.
Let’s talk about Jeremie Frimpong first. The English full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, was destined for Real Madrid, and everyone knew the space he would leave would be hard to fill. And that has proven right so far, because Frimpong has not been so good so far, and now he’s been injured as well, and will miss 4-5 weeks. On the other hand, Connor Bradley hasn’t been that good either. So, the position of RB is a concern for Liverpool right now, and Slot needs to address this problem soon.
Dilemma Of Florian Witz
When Wirtz was announced for the then British record fee, it was broken. I’ll come to that. The hype was unreal, a proven star in the Bundesliga signed for £116 million. He chose Liverpool over Bayern Munich and was destined for greatness. But, so far, we haven’t seen a lot from Wirtz, yes, he’s in a new team, under a new system, but Slot has given him free roam hand in the playing 11 under his system. Only recently, in the Champions League match against Frankfurt, he provided 2 assists. Otherwise, in the PL, he’s been mediocre. Losing possession so many times, and can’t find the right passes. The intensity of the PL so far has proven hard to adjust to for Florian Wirtz, and he needs to overcome that and start performing at the highest level.
We all know how good of a player he is. He is a proven star, and only 22, he is for the future, and no doubt, there will be performances that will catch the eye, but he definitely needs to adjust to the intensity fast at Liverpool, understand the PL intensity, and play through it.
The Problem With Alexander Isak:
Now the main player, a player that Liverpool fought for, and signed him for a British record fee of £130 million. Liverpool had high hopes because they sold misfiring Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal, and were in need of a proven striker, and who better than Isak. He proved a fine striker for Newcastle United, and Newcastle did everything to convince him to stay at the club, but his heart was set on Liverpool, and he wanted the transfer to Liverpool anyway. So, the negotiations between both clubs kept going for a long period of time, and Isak suffered the most. Because he wanted the move early, Newcastle blocked the move initially and also banned Isak from training with the 1st team squad. Isak, by himself, arranged his own training sessions in Spain, at his former club Real Sociedad. After long negotiations, Isak was finally announced on September 2 as a Liverpool player.
The problem with Isak is that he didn’t played a single game in pre-season and his game sharpness declined over time, which was his biggest problem. But, as I said, he’s a proven PL striker, so in my opinion, this should not be an excuse for him. He is not coming from a foreign league, he knows the intensity of the PL, and knows the teams, he should have been fine and start firing the goals. But he is struggling, and this is concerning for Liverpool, because they have paid a lot of money for this player. If he doesn’t improve soon and struggles in the coming months, then Liverpool will be the one who will regret it.
Some Not So Honorable Mentions:
The left-back position was a solid one for Liverpool throughout the era of Klopp. With Andrew Robertson being the 1st team starter, and Kostas Tsimikas being the backup for him, but Robertson is now 31 years old, and his performances have also declined over the past few seasons. So, Arne and the recruitment staff knew that they must bring a new LB, a young, sensational LB. They looked, and they found Milos Kerkez, another proven PL star player. He played for Bournemouth and gave brilliant performances. That attracted Liverpool, and his playing style was also similar to Robertson’s.
But, since he has arrived at Liverpool, he hasn’t looked composed at all. He’s been like a bad defender, a championship-type defender, let’s say this. His confidence level is low. I think the move has come early in his stage, because he is still 21, and Liverpool is a big club. The lofty ambition of the club is a lot to take for Kerkez, and in my opinion, he is not in a position to be under so much pressure. That’s why he is struggling so far. Can he improve? Of course, he can; everyone will, but within the good system, and that’s the job of Arne Slot.
Another player I want to mention is Giovanni Leoni, a young Center-back who arrived from Parma, bought for the stability in defence. When he played against Southampton in the EFL cup, he looked absolutely mature for his age and gave a fantastic opportunity. But, unfortunately, he got injured, and he’s out for the season. Shame, looked immensely good on the ball and while defending as well. But because of his injury, I am putting this player here, otherwise, he looked good.
So, Are The Signings Really The Problem?
No, players like Hugo Ekitike are performing brilliantly and are looking like a fine addition to the squad. He has already scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist. But performs diligently, good on the ball, knows how to dribble and bypass the defenders with some skills, and has the composure to score goals as well. But the chances haven’t been created for him a lot, and that has been a main problem for Liverpool this season. Last season, they created a lot of chances, and Darwin missed a lot as well, but this season, everything has turned upside down; they are not defending well, and are not creating the same chances as they did last season. So, I think players are not the problem; the system of Slot definitely is.
What Has Happened To World-Class Mo Salah?
Last season, Mohammad Salah outshone every player in the world. He was the best player, and yet he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or, because he didn’t win the Champions League last season. But this season, nothing has been going right for the Egyptian; he has been struggling to score and create chances on the pitch. Very unlike him, because we are used to seeing him cut open teams like carving a cake (GOT fans assemble). So far, he has been inconsistent, missed chances, and looks like a shadow of himself. The reason for me is very simple. He has lost a very good friend, Diogo Jota (May He Rest In Peace). Jota lost his life in an accident this year, and for Liverpool, this loss has been the hardest on them. They are still coping with it, with them also the footballing supporters. Salah was even seen crying at the end of a match, in remembrance of Diogo Jota. So, I will not write about this more because, as a Liverpool supporter myself, I am also depressed, so yeah, for me that’s the main reason why Salah hasn’t been performing at the highest level. He’ll be back, we all know that.
How Can Things Improve For Liverpool?
Slot must make changes to his style, and play a style that is best suited for the new players that have arrived in Liverpool, and he must tell the players, who are experienced and leaders, to adapt to the new style and system. Because those players, Isak, Wirtz, Ekitike, Kerkez, and Frimpong, are the future. We all know they are quality players; they just need the right system to flourish, and when they do, no team will be able to stop them. But at the moment, this downhill, in my opinion, will continue. Some upcoming matches are big ones; the match against Real Madrid in the Champions League is around the corner, and in the league, Manchester City will be waiting as well. So, not an easy task at all, losing to Manchester United, also at home, Anfield, has hurt them a lot. But they have to forget all this and come up with something that will work magic.
Here’s how I would manage the team: I’ll start Isak and Ektitke at striker positions, with 3 midfielders behind them, Wirtz at CAM, Gravenberch, and Mac Allister at CDM. And 5 defenders, because the defending has been the biggest concern for Liverpool this season, so going back to basics is the best way to achieve results. Connor Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, and Kerkez. 5-3-2 is the setup, I think, that benefits a lot for these players. Rotating Mac Allister with Szoboszlai adds great value, Salah, and Chiesa bringing in competition for the striker position. This would prove great for Liverpool, and it will be beneficial for them as well. Teams will have a hard time unlocking the defence of Liverpool.
Conclusion:
Liverpool FC is going through a rough patch right now, no doubt about it. But this is still a team full of talent and potential. Arne Slot needs to take a step back, make tactical adjustments, and rebuild the team’s confidence. The new signings need time to adapt, and the experienced players must step up as leaders. With the right balance between structure and freedom, Liverpool can rediscover their rhythm and fight their way back. It won’t be easy, but if any club knows how to rise from setbacks, it’s Liverpool. The spirit is still there, it just needs to be reignited.
FAQs:
1. What caused Liverpool’s sudden drop in form this season?
A mix of predictable tactics, defensive lapses, and loss of confidence has hurt the team badly.
2. Are Arne Slot’s tactics no longer working?
Yes, teams have figured out his system, and without tactical changes, Liverpool looks too easy to play against.
3. Have the new signings made Liverpool stronger?
Not really, most of them are still adapting, and a few have struggled under pressure and expectations.
4. Is Alexander Isak to blame for Liverpool’s poor run?
Partly, yes, because he’s not match-sharp yet, but the lack of proper service from midfield is also a big reason.
5. Why is Mo Salah struggling this season?
He’s mentally and emotionally affected by the loss of his teammate, which has clearly impacted his performances.
6. Can Liverpool still recover and finish strong this season?
Yes, but only if Arne Slot adjusts his system quickly and gives confidence back to both his new and senior players.
Really loved the blog. The problems you told about Liverpool currently are absolutely correct. Hope for better.