Liverpool Faces Historic Struggles in Title Defense

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

Initially seen as an ideal successor to Jürgen Klopp, Slot has now encountered a vastly different set of challenges this season. The 47-year-old manager is struggling to maintain form, with his team at risk of etching an unfavorable legacy into the record books.

Mohamed Salah is currently experiencing a decline in his scoring ability, while marquee summer acquisitions Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, both costing over £100 million, have disappointingly underperformed. Additionally, Ibrahima Konaté represents a defensive frailty that has resulted in the team conceding more goals than they have scored.

The aura of invincibility that once surrounded Liverpool has been shattered, even at their home ground, Anfield. Their recent 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest marked a historic low, as it was the first time the club has suffered consecutive league defeats by three goals since 1965. This defeat contributed to a woeful streak of six losses in seven league matches, which has seen the team plummet from the top of the table to 11th position.

Only José Mourinho’s Chelsea, who struggled in the 2014-15 season, have had a worse start to their title defense with seven defeats after 12 games. This disheartening performance ultimately led to Mourinho’s dismissal in December 2015, just seven months after he had secured the championship for Chelsea for the third time.

Other teams that have faced a similar fate include Blackburn Rovers in the 1994-95 season and Leicester City in 2015-16, both of whom recorded six defeats in their initial 12 games as defending champions. While Blackburn managed to recover and finish seventh, Leicester’s decision to part ways with title-winning coach Claudio Ranieri in February 2017 resulted in a dismal 12th-place finish, the lowest ever for a Premier League champion.

Are Liverpool headed towards a similar fate? Or can Slot reverse the trend and steer his team back towards success this season?

Signs suggest that Liverpool could emerge from their current rut and secure a top-four finish, but football is rarely straightforward. Hence, the rapid decline of teams like Chelsea, Blackburn, and Leicester serves as a cautionary tale. The pressure is mounting on Slot to rectify the situation swiftly.

“Of course there is a way out, especially with the quality players we have,” Slot stated after the defeat against Forest. “I must emphasize that I am responsible for the current losses. Responsibility accompanies both winning and losing. I cannot offer excuses for our poor results; they are far from acceptable, and I am accountable for that.”

Team captain Virgil van Dijk offered a more pointed critique of the squad’s shortcomings, asserting that the players share in the blame and questioning whether all teammates are fully committed to the team’s success.

“As champions, we cannot find ourselves in this situation, yet here we are. What are we going to do about it? We must endeavor to turn it around, and that should be the mentality of everyone involved. It is crucial that all players take responsibility. Are they doing that? I am unsure, but it is imperative.”

Slot faces a multitude of issues to address, but the path forward is not clear, and some challenges lack straightforward solutions.

Defensively, alongside Van Dijk, Konaté’s form has declined, yet Slot has no viable replacement for the French international. The failure to secure a deadline-day transfer for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi is now haunting Liverpool. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Liverpool’s backup option, 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, who was signed from Parma, sustained a cruciate ligament injury in September and will remain sidelined until next season. Konaté’s struggles have also negatively impacted Van Dijk, compounded by the prolonged absence of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who only returned for the match against Forest after an injury layoff since September 30.

In terms of left back, Slot has delayed in recognizing that Milos Kerkez is too inexperienced to adequately replace Andy Robertson. Meanwhile, the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid is increasingly felt each week at right back, forcing Liverpool to field midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai in that position.

With a defense that has become inconsistent and unreliable, Liverpool’s midfielders are struggling to cope, especially when Wirtz is included in the lineup. The German international has yet to contribute a goal or assist in 11 Premier League matches, despite having recorded two assists in four UEFA Champions League games. His inability to contend with the league’s pace and physicality has become evident, as opponents effectively exploit his weaknesses.

Up front, the team is failing to find the net, which is especially surprising given the depth of talent available. Isak has not scored a league goal since his arrival from Newcastle, prompting frustration among Liverpool supporters regarding his work rate. Salah, who was last season’s Footballer of the Year, appears to be playing with disinterest after signing a new two-year contract. Lastly, Hugo Ekitike, initially heralded as a successful acquisition during the summer transfer window, has managed only one goal in nine appearances, with no Premier League goals in over two months.

Salah’s upcoming participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt may provide an opportunity for Slot to field Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike together, potentially shifting the focus away from Salah. However, none of these players have yet demonstrated the capability to meet the challenge.

Ultimately, it is incumbent upon Slot to navigate his team out of their current predicament and prevent Liverpool from ending the season as the worst defending champions in Premier League history.