Terrible and Outplayed: Slot Should Look Inward to Repair Liverpool’s Alarming Droop
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has recommended that the Reds’ current struggles are partly all the way down to how opponents have tailored their techniques — however after one other dreadful evening in west London, it’s clear the supervisor must look a lot nearer to house.
Regardless of what the slim 3–2 defeat at Brentford may recommend, the house aspect have been comfortably superior. For all Liverpool’s high quality on paper, this was a recreation they barely competed in. Had they by some means managed to grab a draw, it might have been nothing in need of daylight theft.
Slot pointed to the long-ball techniques and deep defensive setups of opposing groups as elements behind Liverpool’s collapse — their fourth straight Premier League loss. However the true subject lies inside: his gamers have been disjointed, lifeless, and weak, providing virtually nothing to justify their standing as defending champions.
The defeat marks the fourth consecutive league loss, a run that places Liverpool amongst uncommon firm — solely Leicester (2016–17), Liverpool themselves (2020–21), and Manchester Metropolis (2023–24) have endured related streaks as reigning champions. It’s additionally their worst league run since February 2021, underlining how deep the disaster now runs.
Brentford uncovered Liverpool’s frailty from the opening minutes. A lengthy throw from Michael Kayode was flicked on by Kristoffer Ajer, permitting Dango Ouattara to attain simply 5 minutes in. From then on, Liverpool have been second finest all over the place — undone by set-pieces, torn aside on the counter, and utterly out of rhythm.
Brentford, beneath the more and more spectacular Keith Andrews, deserved full credit score for his or her vitality and group. Mikkel Damsgaard’s pinpoint go to Kevin Schade for the second purpose summed up the distinction between the perimeters: one was incisive and assured, the opposite disjointed and passive.
Liverpool’s issues ran deep throughout the pitch. Virgil van Dijk, normally a pillar of calm, endured a torrid evening alongside Milos Kerkez, whose £40 million transfer is but to yield stability. The Dutch captain’s late foul on Ouattara handed Igor Thiago the penalty that sealed the sport for Brentford.
Defensively, the Reds are leaking targets at an alarming charge — 14 in 9 league video games, in comparison with conceding their 14th solely after 16 matches final season. Since Could, no different Premier League staff has conceded two or extra targets in as many matches.
The midfield was equally lifeless. Florian Wirtz, signed for £116 million, did not construct on his current European efficiency. He missed a golden first-half likelihood and was later substituted for Joe Gomez with seven minutes remaining — a transparent assertion from Slot on the German’s lack of impression. The Brentford followers’ taunt, “What a waste of cash!,” summed up the temper.
Mohamed Salah managed a late purpose to offer Liverpool faint hope, nevertheless it was a uncommon spark in an in any other case flat efficiency. Even Hugo Ekitike, one of many few vivid spots of the summer time, was left remoted and ineffective with out service, particularly within the absence of Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch.
After the match, Slot admitted his frustration to BBC’s Match of the Day:
“It was a disappointing outcome and a disappointing efficiency as effectively. Conceding three targets is much an excessive amount of if you wish to win a recreation. The primary got here from a set-piece, the second from a counter — issues Brentford do rather well. We didn’t do the fundamentals proper.”
The schedule provides little aid. Liverpool face Crystal Palace within the Carabao Cup earlier than returning to league motion towards Aston Villa, adopted by daunting clashes with Actual Madrid within the Champions League and Manchester Metropolis away — a nightmare fixture listing for a aspect this out of shape.
Liverpool’s squad is full of expertise, however proper now, it’s a staff with out form or id. Regardless of spending almost £450 million final summer time, Slot’s males look a shadow of their former selves.
For a membership that cruised to the title simply months in the past, it is a brutal actuality examine. Slot’s problem now isn’t about analyzing opponents — it’s about rediscovering Liverpool’s starvation, self-discipline, and defensive metal earlier than their season spirals additional uncontrolled.