Are Liverpool out of the Premier League title race? Four things Arne Slot must do to turn around Liverpool’s fortunes
An eventful fortnight has left Liverpool in uncharted territory. Arne Slot’s team fell on a series of alarming defeats that put the champions at serious risk of falling out of the competition.
After successive defeats against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford, the Dutchman is already under pressure.
The reigning champions are seven points behind league leaders Arsenal, and while there is still a long way to go, the momentum that carried them through the opening months of the campaign has suddenly vanished.
It’s a worrying situation, and something that former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has dubbed “crisis mode”.
He said: “Seeing the champions lose 4 games in a row in the Premier League with the spending in the summer, I think we are in crisis times for Liverpool at the moment.”
This period certainly marks the most difficult period for Slot since he took over from Jurgen Klopp. The former Feyenoord boss saw his chances of being sacked reduced over the weekend, and he now faces a make-or-break period.
There is still hope that the Reds can return to the formidable form that took them to the title last season. But there are many things to improve.
Here are five key areas the manager must address to turn around Liverpool’s season.
Solve Salah’s riddle
Perhaps the most worrying aspect of Liverpool’s decline is the form of their talisman, Mohamed Salah. After a sensational 34-goal campaign last season, the Egyptian struggled to reach his usual heights. His goalscoring output is down, his xG rating has dropped and his involvement in dangerous areas has noticeably decreased.
This is partly due to structural changes. The departures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have changed the dynamic of Liverpool’s front row. While the new arrivals have yet to adapt, Salah has often been isolated, unable to exploit the central areas where he is most effective.
The coach needs to tweak his attacking plan to get Salah closer to goal, whether by reducing his starting position or asking the right-back to overlap more aggressively. Salah’s instincts have not diminished; he just needs the system to work in his favor.
Unlock the potential of Wirtz
Few signings have generated as much excitement as the £116million arrival of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Considered one of the most creative midfielders in Europe, the German playmaker needed to add that special something to his attack.
But so far its impact has been limited. Wirtz has shown glimpses of his genius, but has yet to stamp his authority on games. A lot of it depends on adaptation. The intensity of the Premier League is a far cry from that of the Bundesliga.
Slot experimented with Wirtz’s positioning, even using him on the left against Crystal Palace, but the results were inconclusive. His natural central drift instinct can clog spaces and stifle Liverpool’s fluidity, particularly against compact defensive setups.
To get the most out of Wirtz, Slot must design a system that balances freedom and structure, allowing him to create without compromising midfield stability. If the manager can find that balance, Wirtz could yet become the creative spark that reignites Liverpool’s title race.
Get Isak fired
Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak has the potential to transform the team’s offensive output, but he has yet to do so. The Swedish striker arrived late in the summer window after a prolonged departure from Newcastle, and his lack of pre-season preparation is showing.
His technical quality is undeniable – intelligent movements, skillful link-up play and composure in front of goal – but the physical edge required for Slot’s high-tempo system is still lacking.
With every match now a must-win for the reigning champions, getting Isak in top form could be decisive. And perhaps more importantly, finding balance in attack between him and Hugo Ekitike.
The young Frenchman also arrived at Anfield this summer and has so far outperformed his Swedish teammate.
As a result, Isak was demoted to the bench more often than he would like, which also impacted the sharpness of his game.
Opt for pairs of full-backs
Slot’s rebuild at Liverpool began with a significant investment in the full-back positions. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez arrived for a combined fee of around £70m, while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid has completely reshaped the defensive structure.
Yet two months into the campaign, there is still uncertainty over who Liverpool’s first-choice full-backs actually are. On the left, Kerkez initially appeared to outpace Andy Robertson, starting most of the early matches.
But the young Hungarian’s rawness showed: his decision-making under pressure was inconsistent, and a costly first-half substitution at Burnley highlighted his continuing adaptation to life at a club meeting Liverpool’s expectations.
Robertson, meanwhile, remains a model professional but is no longer the untouchable starter he once was. His experience is invaluable, but moments like his miss against Chelsea, allowing Estevao Willian to force his way into a stoppage-time winner, highlighted that even veterans are not immune to scrutiny.
On the right, Conor Bradley has started more league games than Frimpong, although neither has yet built the consistency Slot needs.
