Liverpool’s Struggles: A Cautionary Tale for Defending Champions

Liverpool has invested £450 million in new signings this summer, aiming to solidify their position as England’s leading football club following their 20th league championship victory last season. However, after 12 games into their tumultuous title defense, Arne Slot’s team is on track to become the Premier League’s worst-ever defending champions.

Initially celebrated as the ideal successor to Jürgen Klopp, Slot has found himself grappling with a significantly tougher challenge this season. The 47-year-old’s leadership is being tested as Liverpool’s current trajectory threatens to create a troubling legacy in the league’s history.

Key player Mohamed Salah has struggled to find his scoring touch, while marquee summer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz—both exceeding £100 million—have been underwhelming. Additionally, Ibrahima Konaté has exemplified a defensive decline that has seen the team concede more goals than it has scored.

The champions’ previously unassailable aura has been shattered, even at their home ground, Anfield. The recent 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest marked the first occurrence since 1965 that Liverpool has lost consecutive league matches by such a margin. This defeat represents their sixth loss in seven league games, a downturn that has seen them plummet from the top of the table to 11th place.

Historically, only José Mourinho’s Chelsea in the 2014-15 season has endured a worse start to a title defense, suffering seven defeats in their first 12 matches. That disastrous form ultimately led to Mourinho’s dismissal just seven months after clinching the championship.

Liverpool shares a concerning similarity with Blackburn Rovers (1994-95 champions) and Leicester City (2015-16 champions), both of whom tallied six losses in their initial 12 games. While Blackburn rebounded to finish seventh, Leicester’s drastic decline culminated in a 12th-place finish after sacking their title-winning coach, Claudio Ranieri.

Is Liverpool at risk of following Leicester’s path to a dismal finish? Or can Slot effectively reverse the downward trend and steer the team toward a meaningful recovery?

There are indications that Liverpool could emerge from this slump and achieve a top-four finish eventually. However, if football were that straightforward, the troubles faced by Chelsea, Blackburn, and Leicester would not have been as pronounced. The pressure mounts on Slot to rectify the current situation swiftly.

“Of course there is a way out, especially with the quality players we have,” Slot declared after the defeat to Nottingham. “But I want to emphasize that I am responsible for the current losses. You must bear responsibility for both victories and defeats. I cannot make enough excuses for the results we’ve had; they are simply not good enough.”

Captain Virgil van Dijk offered a blunt critique of the team’s performance, insisting that players must share the responsibility and questioning whether all team members are fully committed.

“As the champions, we cannot accept our current predicament, but it is our reality,” he stated. “The focus now must be on how we can turn it around, and everyone must adopt that mentality. The critical issue is whether all players are taking responsibility—I’m not sure if they are.”

Slot faces numerous challenges, but the prioritization of these issues is crucial, and some have no clear solutions. In defense, alongside Van Dijk, Konaté’s performance has waned, and Slot lacks an alternative to the French defender. The failure to secure a deadline-day deal for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi is now a lingering regret for Liverpool.

Additionally, it is worth noting that Liverpool’s backup option, Giovanni Leoni, an 18-year-old signed from Parma, is sidelined due to a cruciate ligament injury. Konaté’s declining form has adversely impacted Van Dijk, compounded by the absence of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who returned only recently after a long injury layoff.

At left-back, Slot has been slow to recognize that Milos Kerkez lacks the experience needed to replace Andy Robertson effectively. Meanwhile, the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid is increasingly felt at right-back, where Liverpool has often resorted to deploying midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

With a defense that has become inconsistent and unreliable, Liverpool’s midfield is struggling to meet the demands placed upon them, particularly concerning Wirtz. The German player has yet to contribute a goal or assist in 11 Premier League appearances, although he has managed two assists in four UEFA Champions League games. His inability to adapt to the pace and physicality of the English game has become increasingly apparent, as opponents exploit his weaknesses.

Upfront, the lack of productivity is perhaps the most striking shortcoming of Slot’s squad, considering the wealth of talent available. Isak has yet to find the net in the league since his arrival from Newcastle United, and frustration is growing among Liverpool’s supporters regarding his work ethic. Salah, last season’s Footballer of the Year, appears to be playing as if he regrets not moving on during the summer and signing a two-year extension instead. Meanwhile, Hugo Ekitike, once viewed as a potential success story, has managed only one goal in nine appearances, without scoring in the league for over two months.

Salah’s impending departure to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt may present an opportunity for Slot to reconfigure his attack, possibly allowing Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike the chance to shine in his absence. However, none of them have demonstrated the capacity to rise to this challenge.

Ultimately, the onus is on Slot to navigate the team out of this predicament and prevent Liverpool from concluding the season as the worst defending champions in Premier League history.