Liverpool’s Struggles: A Title Defense in Turmoil

Liverpool has invested £450 million in new signings this summer to solidify their status as England’s dominant football club following their recent victory in the 20th league championship. However, after 12 tumultuous matches in their title defense, the team, led by Arne Slot, is on track to become the worst defending champions in Premier League history.

Initially regarded as the ideal successor to Jürgen Klopp, Slot’s leadership has faced significant challenges this season. The 47-year-old is struggling to find solutions as the team risks making unwanted historical records.

Key players like Mohamed Salah have experienced a drop in form, while high-profile summer acquisitions Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, both costing over £100 million, have underperformed. Additionally, Ibrahima Konaté has epitomized a defensive crisis, as the team has conceded more league goals than it has scored.

The champions’ previously unassailable reputation has been severely undermined, even at Anfield. The recent 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest signifies Liverpool’s first back-to-back league losses by three goals since 1965. This setback marks their sixth defeat in seven league matches, a downturn that has seen them plummet from first to eleventh place.

Only José Mourinho’s Chelsea in the 2014-15 season had a worse start to a title defense, suffering seven defeats in their first 12 games, a run that ultimately led to Mourinho’s dismissal in December 2015, just seven months after securing the title for the third time.

Historically, Blackburn Rovers (1994-95 champions) and Leicester City (2015-16 champions) are the only other clubs to have recorded six defeats in their initial 12 matches as defending champions. While Blackburn managed to recover, finishing seventh the following season, Leicester’s decision to dismiss Claudio Ranieri in February 2017 led to a disappointing twelfth-place finish, the lowest for any Premier League champion.

As Liverpool faces the prospect of a similarly disastrous campaign, the question remains: Can Slot reverse the team’s fortunes and aim for a top-four finish, or is a bottom-half finish inevitable?

Despite the current struggles, there is hope that Liverpool can break their losing streak and regain a competitive position. Slot acknowledged the challenges after the Forest defeat, stating, “Of course there is a way out, especially with the quality players we have. But I am responsible for the current losses. Winning and losing both come with responsibility. I can’t make enough excuses for our results; they are far from good enough.”

Captain Virgil van Dijk also reflected on the team’s predicament, emphasizing the need for collective accountability: “As champions, we cannot find ourselves in this situation. Everyone must take responsibility. Are all players doing that? I’m uncertain, but it is essential.”

Slot faces numerous issues, with no clear solutions in sight. Alongside Van Dijk, the erratic form of Konaté has left Liverpool with limited defensive options. The failure to secure a last-minute deal for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi looms large.

Compounding these problems, Liverpool’s backup defender, Giovanni Leoni, is sidelined due to a significant injury. Additionally, the absence of goalkeeper Alisson Becker has exacerbated defensive frailties, leading to a cascade of issues affecting the entire lineup.

At left-back, Slot’s prolonged reliance on Milos Kerkez has proven problematic, while the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has moved to Real Madrid, is increasingly felt on the right side where midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has had to fill in.

With a defensive unit that is both inconsistent and unreliable, Liverpool’s midfielders are struggling under the pressure, particularly when Wirtz is on the field. The young German has yet to score or assist in eleven league appearances, raising concerns about his adaptability to the Premier League’s demands.

Up front, the situation is equally dire. Isak remains goalless in the league since joining from Newcastle United, and Salah, last season’s Footballer of the Year, is performing below expectations, perhaps reflecting on his missed transfer opportunity last summer. Meanwhile, Hugo Ekitike has also been disappointing, with only one goal in nine appearances.

Salah’s upcoming departure for the Africa Cup of Nations may shift the dynamics, potentially allowing Slot to experiment with a new attacking trio of Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike. However, the pressing question remains whether any of these players can rise to the occasion.

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