Liverpool Faces Troubling Title Defense and Managerial Challenges

omidbasir- Liverpool Football Club invested £450 million in new signings this summer in a bid to reinforce their status as England’s dominant sporting force, following their recent triumph in securing a 20th league championship. However, after 12 matches into their chaotic title defense, the team, under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, is on track to become the Premier League’s worst-ever defending champions.

Slot was initially seen as the ideal successor to Jürgen Klopp, having navigated Liverpool into a new era with minimal disruption last season. Yet, this season presents an entirely different set of challenges. The 47-year-old is struggling so profoundly that his side is on the verge of making history—or rather, infamy—for unfavorable reasons.

The form of key player Mohamed Salah has notably dipped, while significant summer signings like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, both acquired for over £100 million, have thus far proven to be costly disappointments. Additionally, Ibrahima Konaté’s performance has epitomized the defensive struggles that have led the team to concede more league goals than it has scored.

The champions’ once-unassailable confidence has been severely undermined, even at their home ground, Anfield. The recent 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest marked a historic moment as it was the first time since 1965 that Liverpool lost successive league games by three goals. This latest loss was their sixth in seven league outings, a dismal streak that began on September 27, causing them to plummet from the top of the league to 11th position.

Only Chelsea, under José Mourinho in the 2014-15 season, has had a worse start to a title defense, recording seven losses in their first 12 matches. That alarming trend ultimately led to Mourinho’s dismissal in December 2015, a mere seven months after securing the title for the third time.

Blackburn Rovers (1994-95 champions) and Leicester City (2015-16 champions) are the only other clubs to have endured six defeats in their first 12 games as defending champions. Blackburn managed to stabilize their performance to finish seventh in the following season, while Leicester, after dismissing title-winning coach Claudio Ranieri in February 2017, concluded their campaign in 12th place — marking the lowest-ever finish for a Premier League champion, two spots lower than Chelsea the previous year.

As Liverpool navigates this troubling period, questions arise: Are they headed towards a Leicester-esque finish in the bottom half? Or can Slot halt the decline and steer his team back towards success?

There is hope that Liverpool will emerge from their current losing streak and contend for a top-four finish. However, if football were that straightforward, Chelsea, Blackburn, and Leicester would not have experienced such rapid declines. 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 following the defeat against Forest. “But I want to emphasize that I am responsible for the current losses. You are responsible when you are winning but also when you are losing. I can never provide enough excuses for our results. That is far from good enough, and I am accountable for that.”

Captain Virgil van Dijk offered a more incisive critique of the team’s shortcomings, emphasizing the players’ need to accept shared responsibility while questioning whether all teammates are fully committed. “As champions, we can’t be in the situation we are in right now, but it’s a fact. What are we going to do about it? We are going to try to turn it around, and that’s the mentality everyone should have. The main thing is that everyone must take responsibility. Are people doing that? I don’t know, but it is necessary.”

Slot faces numerous challenges, but determining where to begin is crucial, and several issues lack straightforward solutions. Alongside Van Dijk, Konaté’s decline in form has left Slot with no viable alternatives. The failure to secure a deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi on deadline day continues to haunt Liverpool.

Additionally, Liverpool’s backup option, 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, who was signed from Parma, suffered a cruciate ligament injury in September and will be out until next season. Konaté’s struggles have impacted Van Dijk, compounded by the absence of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who returned from injury only for the defeat against Forest after being sidelined since September 30.

Slot has also taken too long to recognize that Milos Kerkez lacks the experience to replace Andy Robertson at left-back. The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who transferred to Real Madrid, has been acutely felt at right-back, where Liverpool has frequently needed to field midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

With a defense that has become inconsistent and unreliable, Liverpool’s midfielders are struggling to meet the demands placed upon them, especially when Wirtz is selected. The German international has yet to register a goal or assist in 11 Premier League appearances, although he has two assists in four UEFA Champions League matches. He continues to struggle with the pace and physicality of the English league, which opponents are exploiting.

Upfront, the situation is dire, showcasing a remarkable failure by Slot and his players, given the depth of talent available. Isak has not scored a league goal since his arrival from Newcastle United, and frustrations among Liverpool supporters are growing regarding his work rate. Meanwhile, Salah, last season’s Footballer of the Year, appears to play as though he regrets not seeking new opportunities over the summer instead of extending his contract for another two years. Hugo Ekitike, who was expected to be a standout from the summer window, has managed only one goal in nine appearances, with no Premier League goals in over two months.

Salah’s upcoming departure to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt next month may offer Slot a chance to refocus the team, potentially allowing Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike to step up in his absence. However, none have shown signs of rising to the occasion thus far.

Ultimately, the responsibility falls on Slot to salvage the team’s season and prevent Liverpool from concluding the campaign as the worst defending champions in Premier League history.