Liverpool’s Deepening Crisis: What’s Going Wrong at Anfield?
Liverpool are in the midst of a worrying crisis, having won just one of their last six matches and dropping out of the Premier League’s top six despite leading the table for much of the early season. The pressure is mounting on manager Arne Slot, with serious discussions emerging about his future at the club.
Unai Emery’s Visit Adds to Slot’s Troubles
The timing couldn’t be worse for Slot as Unai Emery – the tactical professor who recently outmaneuvered Pep Guardiola and contained Erling Haaland – prepares to visit Anfield. Emery’s reputation as a master of adaptation poses significant threats to Liverpool, who have shown consistent vulnerabilities against set-pieces and long-ball strategies.
Slot finds himself constantly defending his team’s performances in post-match press conferences, marking the first time the Dutch manager has faced such intense scrutiny during his Liverpool tenure.
Crystal Palace Defeat: Set-Piece Woes and Low-Block Struggles
What Went Wrong Against Palace
Liverpool’s problems were exposed during their Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, particularly in set-piece defense and breaking down opponents playing with an extremely low defensive block.
Slot was brutally honest in his assessment: “Liverpool failed in the first half. But after the break, we looked stronger than the opponent. They deserved their goal, and we were lucky the score remained minimal. The second half was completely different – we equalized just minutes before the end, but then a set-piece goal gave them three points.”
The manager highlighted the dramatic shift in set-piece performance: “Last season, set-pieces were one of our strongest weapons. Currently, that’s not the case. Conceding in added time is always painful. There was a substitution, so the additional half-minute was justified. I need to check exactly when they scored, but we must defend better after throw-ins.”
Tactical Analysis: The Low-Block Problem
Before their next match, Slot analyzed the tactical challenge: “Their playing style suited their players: low block, fast players, the physical presence of Mateta. It was difficult to break through this low block. Palace didn’t control possession, but there was a controversial corner. After that, we allowed too many counter-attacking opportunities.”
He continued: “I won’t say we played well in the first half – that wouldn’t be true. But we weren’t outplayed either. Several times they got the ball into our defensive area where they won second balls. We can only blame ourselves for how we defended – perhaps we were too focused on attacking.”
Galatasaray Champions League Disappointment: Adaptation and Misfortune
European Setbacks Continue
Liverpool’s struggles extended to the Champions League against Galatasaray, with familiar issues in set-piece defense and failure to establish game rhythm.
Slot began by praising the opposition: “We’re disappointed. We played completely differently, looked good in the first half and could have taken the lead. We were somewhat outsmarted – they turned a 20% penalty chance into 100%.”
Fixture Congestion and Squad Management
The manager pointed to scheduling challenges: “We’re not that far from last season’s level. Perhaps these defeats are a consequence of the fixture calendar. The match against Galatasaray was by no means easy. Now we face a difficult game against Chelsea – small details decide everything, and for the second time they haven’t gone our way.”
Slot emphasized the rhythm disruption: “I don’t think the ball was in play much after the break, since the opponent’s forward was on the ground four or five times. It was harder to establish any rhythm.”
He addressed the demanding schedule ahead: “We have many matches coming up. The next game is crucial. We need to use the entire squad. Players can contribute both from the start and from the bench. Salah remained as a substitute last time. Previously, Mo scored a hat-trick when coming off the bench against Rangers.”
Mounting Pressure and Historical Context
Slot’s reference to his assistant Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who previously managed Rangers, highlights the manager’s attempt to find positive historical parallels during this challenging period. However, with Liverpool’s dramatic drop in form and increasing defensive vulnerabilities, the pressure continues to build at Anfield.
The coming matches against Chelsea and Unai Emery’s tactical challenge will be crucial tests for Slot’s ability to reverse Liverpool’s alarming slide and silence the growing doubts about his leadership.
