Liverpool’s Chaotic Title Defense: A Season of Struggles

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

Once celebrated as the ideal successor to Jürgen Klopp, Slot’s tenure has taken a troubling turn this season. The 47-year-old is now grappling with significant challenges, as his team threatens to make history for all the wrong reasons.

Mohamed Salah has struggled to find his scoring touch, while high-profile summer acquisitions Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, each costing over £100 million, have been underwhelming. Furthermore, Ibrahima Konaté has become a symbol of the team’s defensive struggles, with Liverpool conceding more league goals than they have scored.

The reigning champions have seen their aura of invincibility shattered, even at Anfield. A 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest marked the first time since 1965 that Liverpool has suffered consecutive league losses by three goals. This defeat was part of a disheartening streak of six losses in their last seven league matches, resulting in a significant drop from first to eleventh place in the standings.

Historically, only José Mourinho’s Chelsea, in the 2014-15 season, have had a worse start to a title defense, suffering seven defeats in their first 12 matches. This dismal performance ultimately led to Mourinho’s dismissal just months after winning the title.

Other teams, such as Blackburn Rovers (1994-95 champions) and Leicester City (2015-16 champions), have recorded six defeats in their first 12 games as defending champions. Blackburn managed to stabilize and finish seventh, while Leicester, after parting ways with title-winning coach Claudio Ranieri, ended their season in 12th place, marking the lowest finish for a Premier League champion.

Will Liverpool mirror Leicester’s fate and finish in the bottom half, or can Slot reverse the trend and guide his team towards a successful season?

Indications suggest that Liverpool could recover from their current slump and aim for a top-four finish. However, if football were that predictable, Chelsea, Blackburn, and Leicester would never have experienced such rapid declines. The pressure is mounting on Slot to rectify the situation promptly.

“There is certainly a way out, especially with the quality players we have,” Slot remarked following the defeat to Forest. “However, I must emphasize that I am accountable for the current losses. Responsibility comes alongside victories as well as defeats. I cannot continue to make excuses for our results; they are far from satisfactory, and I am to blame.”

Slot’s captain, Virgil van Dijk, provided a more incisive critique of the team’s shortcomings, suggesting that players must acknowledge their share of the blame while questioning whether all teammates are fully committed to the team’s cause.

“As champions, we cannot find ourselves in the situation we are in, but it is a reality. What will we do to change it? We must seek to turn it around, and that should be everyone’s mindset. The primary concern is that everyone must take responsibility. Are they doing that? I am uncertain, but it is necessary.”

Slot faces a myriad of issues to resolve, yet the challenges do not always present clear solutions. Defensively, alongside Van Dijk, Konaté’s recent downturn in form has left Slot with limited alternatives, and the failure to secure a deadline-day deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi looms large over Liverpool’s squad.

Additionally, it is worth noting that Liverpool’s backup option, 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, signed from Parma, is sidelined due to a cruciate ligament injury and will be unavailable until next season. Konaté’s inconsistent performances have also impacted Van Dijk, compounded by the extended absence of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who returned for his first match since September 30 in the defeat against Forest.

At left back, Slot has been slow to recognize that Milos Kerkez lacks the experience to adequately replace Andy Robertson. Meanwhile, the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid has been keenly felt on the right flank, where Liverpool has often been forced to deploy midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

With a defense that has become increasingly unreliable, Liverpool’s midfielders are struggling to meet the demands placed upon them, particularly when Wirtz is in the lineup. The Germany international has yet to record a goal or assist in 11 Premier League matches, although he has provided two assists in four UEFA Champions League games. He appears unable to cope with the physicality and pace of the English game, a weakness that opponents have begun to exploit.

Forward play has also faltered, which is striking given the depth of talent at Slot’s disposal. Isak has yet to score a league goal since his transfer from Newcastle United, and his work ethic has begun to frustrate Liverpool supporters. Meanwhile, Salah, the previous season’s Footballer of the Year, seems to be playing like someone who regrets not seeking a new chapter this summer rather than committing to an extended two-year contract. Hugo Ekitike, once viewed as a bright spot from the summer transfer window, has only found the net once in nine appearances and has not scored in the Premier League for over two months.

Salah’s imminent participation in the Africa Cup of Nations could provide a unique opportunity for Slot, potentially allowing him to deploy Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike as the focal point of the attack. However, none have demonstrated the necessary capabilities to rise to this challenge.

Ultimately, it is up to Slot to navigate the team out of this predicament and ensure that Liverpool does not conclude this season as the worst defending champions in Premier League history.