Why Liverpool's Problems Run Deeper Than Arne Slot

Liverpool's recent struggles cannot simply be blamed on Arne Slot. This article explores the deeper issues affecting intensity, decision-making, defensive desire, and squad mentality, explaining why changing the manager may not solve the club's current problems.



I've stepped away from the site for a while, and honestly it's because of this kind of discussion that keeps popping up. The whole idea that Arne Slot "won the Premier League with Klopp's team" last season is just absurd. It completely downplays the work he actually did. It makes it sound like anyone could've walked into Liverpool FC, picked up Klopp's squad, and cruised to a title. That isn't how football works, and it certainly isn't what happened.

We can praise Slot for the job he did last season, because he genuinely was excellent, while still holding him accountable for what's happening now. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.

The truth is, none of us fully know what's gone wrong this season. Any theory we come up with is just that: a guess. What's clear, though, is that something isn't right. The intensity of the players is nowhere near what it should be. We're still comfortable enough in games, we still dominate possession, but we lack that bite in transition, that aggression that used to define us. The desire to protect our goal at all costs simply isn't there.

It's the poor decisions, the missed tackles, the failure to win second balls. These things are costing us in matches where we otherwise control the ball and look like we're building momentum. The moment we lose rhythm, we start forcing things, trying to manufacture chances instead of letting them develop naturally, and that only leads to more turnovers. Yes, we usually win the ball back quickly, but if the opponent manages to slip through that first press, we're suddenly wide open.

And honestly, I don't think changing the manager right now is the right move. Mainly because I don't believe Slot is instructing these players to be passive, to let runners drift past them, to switch off in key moments. It's impossible to imagine he told Mac Allister to let Williams shove past him for that second goal, or that Robbo should allow Hutchison to cut inside without even putting an arm across him for the third. No manager in the world tells players to defend like that.

Which tells me there's something deeper going on with the players themselves. We can all speculate, and people will, but personally I don't think sacking a manager who literally just won the league is a road we want to go down. That becomes a rabbit hole very quickly, and it's hard to climb back out of once you start down it.

I would understand the logic if he were sacked, because Liverpool losing 3-0 at home to anyone is unacceptable. But this is not the same situation we saw under Rodgers when he lost heavily to West Ham United. With Rodgers, even before that match, you could see we were on the decline. The previous season had already been a mess, and the signs were everywhere that it wasn't going to improve.

Slot's situation is different. I genuinely think we'll come through this rough patch. The squad is strong, the manager has proven that he can win the league, and the building blocks are still there. I get why some supporters can't see past the frustration right now; I really do. But personally, I can still see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if we've made it hard for ourselves along the way.

Written by Robboslostlegs November 24 2025 14:16:54