Who is really to blame for Liverpool's insane drop off?
Arne Slot’s first title defence with Liverpool has not gone to plan. The Reds have been nothing short of disappointing this season.
Despite winning the Premier League at a canter in his maiden campaign with the club, Slot has failed to maintain his early success at Anfield.
When the champions spent over £400 million in the summer almost everyone assumed that they would at least be strong challengers for the Premier League this season, but their title charge was over by mid-November.
The Reds are unbeaten in nine matches, but the team is still performing at an incredibly lacklustre level and Slot is once again in the firing line.
What has gone wrong for Slot this season?
It cannot be overlooked that Liverpool are suffering from an injury crisis, at times the Reds have barely been able to field an XI of senior players.
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That is not the sole cause of the club’s miserable form this season though.
Slot has implemented a number of tactical changes this season, some presumably to accommodate the six new signings that arrived at Anfield in the summer.
A new formation was briefly used, utilising four midfielders instead of three, but a serious injury to club-record signing Alexander Isak seems to have brought a swift end to that experiment.
Despite being unbeaten in nine, the Reds have looked outclassed tactically on several occasions in recent weeks, and still look a long way away from being a team ready to challenge for a title.
Is Slot entirely to blame for Liverpool’s woes?
It is incredibly rare that blame for a football club’s failings can fall on one person, and the same is true at Anfield right now.
Slot is not the only culprit for Liverpool’s struggles. The club’s summer recruitment led by Richard Hughes has left clear gaps in the squad, presumably to be filled either in this January window or next summer.
Some feel that Hughes and the other executives behind Liverpool’s transfer dealings should bear the brunt of the criticism for the champions’ downfall.
Neil Atkinson of The Anfield Wrap shared his discontent with the club’s recruitment team after the draw to Fulham, saying: “I don't think it's right that the people who are ultimately responsible for those decisions never speak about them in public.”
The issues at Liverpool are clearly more widespread than just the head coach, but Slot is not blameless.
Slot’s tactical blunders
There are a number of tactical decisions that supporters have taken exception to this season.
Slot persists with the same core of players despite having a combination of experience – Federico Chiesa – and promising youth – Rio Ngumoha – on the bench.
Cody Gakpo’s position in the side looks untouchable currently, despite the Dutchman’s tendency to cut in and shoot from the left becoming incredibly predictable to opposition defenders.
The fullbacks have often been instructed to play very narrow, hindering the performances of Milos Kerkez especially.
Ibrahima Konate has played almost every minute for Liverpool this season despite making repeated errors.
Some of these issues are a direct result of recruitment decisions, more specifically decisions to sell players last summer, but Slot has to shoulder the responsibility for poor tactics this campaign.
Is Slot playing the football he wants to play?
Although he may not have as big a say in recruitment, Slot is the man who ultimately chooses how Liverpoll play their football every week.
After Sunday’s draw, the Dutchman gave some insight into his preferred philosophy, telling the press:
“I didn't change as a manager, I would love to play with eight attackers if that's possible defensively but if those eight attackers don't defend enough, it's hard to win a game of football."
There is some irony in Slot making that comment after a game in which he left Chiesa and Ngumoha, two natural attackers, on the bench and started Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai out of position instead.
Is Slot in danger of losing his job?
There doesn’t appear to be much danger of Slot’s dismissal being imminent, but there is still immense pressure on the 47-year-old.
Liverpool suffered their worst run of form in recent memory earlier in the season, losing nine in a 12-game stretch. The results have improved since, but the performances still leave plenty to be desired.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United have sacked their managers in the past week, despite only sitting three points behind Liverpool.
Slot’s position seems safe for now, but improvement is needed for the Dutchman to secure his long-term future at Anfield.
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Comments
Slot not to blame for this if he hasn't got the players he wanted then its those who do decide who comes and who goes the likes of Hughes and Edwards who are to blame Slot can only pick from the hand he is dealt with.
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