Just eight days ago, the world seemed a slightly rosier shade of red for Liverpool. A resilient, if not always dominant, winning streak painted a picture of a team capable of grinding out results, even when not at their scintillating best. Yet, the brutal reality of football, much like an unexpected plot twist, has delivered a harsh dose of introspection. Three consecutive defeats, culminating in a last-minute 2-1 loss to Chelsea, have stripped away the veneer of invincibility, revealing three profound issues that Arne Slot must now confront head-on.
This isn`t merely a blip; it`s a stark re-evaluation. Nearly 20% into the season, the champions appear a dramatically different, and arguably inferior, iteration of their former selves. The initial goodwill surrounding Slot`s arrival is rapidly giving way to critical scrutiny. The question isn`t just “What went wrong against Chelsea?” but “What is fundamentally broken?”
The Irreplaceable Void: Alexander-Arnold`s Shadow Looms Large
When Trent Alexander-Arnold departed for Real Madrid, the footballing world knew Liverpool would lose a generational talent in terms of ball progression and creativity. Replacing the best passer on the planet was always going to be an Everest-sized task. What perhaps wasn`t fully appreciated, however, was just how profoundly his absence would destabilize the entire right flank – both offensively and defensively.
Tonight, the chasm was glaring. While Dominik Szoboszlai admirably attempted to replicate Alexander-Arnold`s attacking forays, even contributing to the equalizer, his defensive shortcomings at right-back were ruthlessly exploited by Chelsea. Every diagonal pass to Liverpool`s right seemed to be an invitation for trouble. It was a tactical Achilles` heel that Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella openly admitted they targeted. The historical Liverpool strategy of shielding their right-back, often through a robust midfield or clever rotations, has seemingly vanished. Even Ibrahima Konate, once Alexander-Arnold`s diligent cover, appeared a shadow of his former self, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of attacks funneled down that channel.
This isn`t merely about finding a new right-back; it`s about re-establishing a systemic balance that Alexander-Arnold uniquely provided. His dual threat meant opponents had to account for him, creating space elsewhere. Without him, the tactical chess board has shifted, and Slot is still searching for a counter-move.
The Faltering King: Mohamed Salah`s Uncharacteristic Slump
For years, Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool`s talisman, the “Egyptian King” whose mere presence struck fear into opposition defenses. His relentless pursuit of goals and assists elevated Liverpool to unprecedented heights. Yet, since the Reds` Champions League exit, the crown has begun to slip.
Four goals (one penalty) and three assists in sixteen Premier League games represent an alarming downturn for a player who, just a season ago, seemed to score everything. His shots per 90 minutes have plummeted, indicating a broader cratering of his overall performance. Slot, ever the diplomat, noted Salah`s four chances created and two shots against Chelsea, suggesting glimmers of his old self. But the reality is stark: flashes are no substitute for sustained brilliance.
The question now isn`t if Salah can score everything, but if he can score enough. Is this a temporary dip in form, perhaps due to fatigue or a natural decline as he approaches the twilight of his elite years? Or is it a sign of a deeper, more permanent shift? If Liverpool`s most prolific asset isn`t firing on all cylinders, the entire attacking apparatus loses its cutting edge, leaving the team a shadow of its former, terrifying self.
The Missing Intensity: A Crisis of Pressing and Aggression
Under Jurgen Klopp, “Gegenpressing” wasn`t just a tactic; it was Liverpool`s identity. The ferocious, collective hunt for the ball in advanced areas stifled opponents and created countless scoring opportunities. Yet, this season, a disturbing lack of intensity has crept into Liverpool`s play, particularly in the attacking third.
While statistics might show a slight improvement in passes per defensive action, suggesting some pressing, the qualitative drop is evident. Recoveries in the attacking third are down by a worrying 10%. The diligent pressing of former players like Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, and the unfortunate absence of Diogo Jota, are keenly felt. Isak, for all his talent, doesn`t seem to possess the same tireless work rate without the ball, allowing opponents like Benoit Badiashile to bypass Liverpool`s initial lines with ease.
The first half against Chelsea, in particular, was a masterclass in passive defending. Opponents breezed through midfield, finding acres of space where once there was only a wall of red shirts. Alexis Mac Allister, perhaps not yet fully fit, struggled, but the collective failure to “scrabble into space” – a hallmark of previous Liverpool sides – was astonishing. The aggression, the “oomph” that once discombobulated even the most organized defenses, was conspicuously absent. This isn`t just a technical flaw; it’s a philosophical one, a departure from the very essence of what made Liverpool so formidable.
Conclusion: A Reckoning for Slot
Arne Slot`s honeymoon period, if it ever truly began amidst the high expectations, is unequivocally over. Sitting second in the table offers little comfort when the underlying performances betray such significant structural weaknesses. The challenges are clear: rebuild a cohesive right flank, reignite the spark in their iconic forward, and, perhaps most critically, re-instill the relentless defensive intensity that defined an era.
Can Slot adapt? Can he find solutions to these deep-seated problems while navigating the relentless demands of the Premier League? This current Liverpool squad, despite its talent, seems to have forgotten how to intimidate. For the new manager, the task is monumental: not just to win games, but to rediscover Liverpool`s soul.
