Liverpool’s Struggles: A Title Defense in Crisis

omidbasir- Liverpool’s summer investment of £450 million in new signings aimed to solidify their position as a dominant force in English football, following their 20th league championship win last season. However, after 12 tumultuous matches in their title defense, manager Arne Slot’s team is on track to set the record for the poorest performance by a defending champion in Premier League history.

Initially praised as the ideal successor to Jürgen Klopp, Slot has encountered a vastly different reality this season. The 47-year-old is struggling to navigate the challenges, with his squad threatening to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Key player Mohamed Salah has seen a decline in his scoring abilities, while summer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, each costing over £100 million, have not lived up to expectations. Furthermore, Ibrahima Konaté’s lackluster performance has highlighted a defensive crisis, resulting in more goals conceded than scored by the team.

The aura of invincibility that once surrounded the defending champions has been shattered, even at their home ground of Anfield. A recent 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest marked the first instance since 1965 that Liverpool has lost consecutive league matches by three goals. This defeat extended their dismal record to six losses in seven league games, causing them to plummet from the top of the table to 11th place.

Only José Mourinho’s Chelsea in the 2014-15 season have had a worse start to their title defense, suffering seven defeats in their opening 12 games. That poor performance ultimately led to Mourinho’s dismissal just seven months after winning the title.

Liverpool joins the ranks of Blackburn Rovers (1994-95 champions) and Leicester City (2015-16 champions), both of which have also faced six defeats in their first 12 matches as defending champions. Although Blackburn managed to stabilize and finish seventh the following season, Leicester’s decision to dismiss their title-winning coach Claudio Ranieri resulted in a disappointing 12th-place finish—the lowest ever for a Premier League champion.

Fans are left wondering if Liverpool is heading towards a similar fate. Can Slot reverse this downward trend and steer his team back towards success?

There are indications that Liverpool can recover and aim for a top-four finish. However, history shows that teams like Chelsea, Blackburn, and Leicester have struggled to regain their form after such a sharp decline. The pressure is mounting on Slot to effect a quick turnaround.

“Of course there is a way out, especially with the quality players we have,” Slot stated following the defeat against Forest. “But I must emphasize that I am responsible for the current losses. Responsibility lies with you in both victories and defeats. I cannot offer enough excuses for our results; they are far from acceptable, and I take responsibility for that.”

Team captain Virgil van Dijk echoed Slot’s sentiments, underscoring the need for players to accept accountability. “As the champions, we cannot be in the situation we currently find ourselves in. What will we do about it? We must strive to turn it around, and this mentality should be universal. Everyone must take responsibility. Are all players doing that? I cannot say. But it is essential.”

Slot faces numerous issues, and pinpointing where to begin is challenging, as some problems lack clear solutions.

In defense, Van Dijk has struggled alongside a faltering Konaté, with no viable alternatives available. The failure to secure a last-minute transfer for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi is now haunting Liverpool.

Additionally, the absence of backup option Giovanni Leoni, an 18-year-old talent from Parma who suffered a cruciate ligament injury in September, complicates matters. Konaté’s declining form has adversely affected Van Dijk, compounded by goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s prolonged absence until his recent return against Forest.

On the left flank, Slot has hesitated to recognize that Milos Kerkez is too inexperienced to effectively replace Andy Robertson. Meanwhile, the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid continues to adversely impact the right-back position, forcing Liverpool to use midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai as a makeshift solution.

With a defense that has become inconsistent, Liverpool’s midfield is also feeling the strain, particularly when Wirtz is selected by Slot. The German midfielder has failed to contribute any goals or assists in 11 Premier League appearances, although he has managed two assists in four UEFA Champions League games. He has struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of English football, with opponents taking advantage of his vulnerabilities.

Offensively, the team’s struggles are particularly surprising given their wealth of talent. Isak has yet to score a league goal since joining from Newcastle United, and his work rate has begun to frustrate fans. Salah, last season’s Footballer of the Year, appears to be underperforming, as his commitment seems to wane following his decision to extend his contract rather than seek a move elsewhere. Hugo Ekitike, once viewed as a promising addition, has managed just one goal in nine appearances and has yet to score in the Premier League for over two months.

With Salah set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt next month, this may provide Slot with an opportunity to feature Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike together—without Salah’s shadow. However, none of these players have yet shown they can rise to this challenge.

Ultimately, it is up to Slot to rescue the team from its current plight and ensure that Liverpool does not end this season as the worst defending champions in Premier League history.