Liverpool’s Struggles Under Scrutiny Following Latest Defeat

Liverpool’s recent defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League has intensified scrutiny surrounding manager Slot. The club’s ambitions to retain their Premier League title appear to be in disarray after just 12 matches this season. The Dutch coach has secured only six victories so far in the 2025-26 campaign, despite significant summer investments in players such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong.

Acknowledging the perplexing nature of his team’s current form, Slot expressed his inability to understand the reasons behind their struggles. However, he defended his squad by highlighting their Champions League performance, which includes notable victories against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Eintracht Frankfurt.

In an interview with TNT Sports, Slot stated, “Like many others, I find myself confused. How is it possible to have such quality and not find a winning formula for my team? It’s also not entirely accurate to say we have not succeeded, as we have won two of our last four matches and three out of four in the Champions League. Nonetheless, it is evident that we have lost far too many games.”

One significant challenge for Liverpool this season has been the underwhelming impact of high-profile signings like Isak, Wirtz, and Kerkez. Despite this, Slot remained optimistic, asserting that these players are excellent additions to the club. He remarked, “Everyone, including myself, is surprised. Winning the league involved changes, but we also made some signings that I believed would be beneficial. The players who remained have been crucial for us. It is unexpected to find ourselves in such a poor run. Even without new signings, one wouldn’t anticipate Liverpool losing six out of seven league matches.”

Slot emphasized that he finds it challenging to explain the team’s performance, stating, “There are never enough excuses for what has transpired. This makes it difficult for me, as I prefer to find explanations. Understanding the issues is crucial to developing solutions.”

Looking forward, Slot discussed strategies to regain the team’s form, stating, “This is not a moment for reflection on past mistakes; it is about looking ahead. I want to play with a team that replicates last season’s success. While I have observed many similarities, there are a few critical details that have changed and cost us dearly. One such detail is our defensive record on set-pieces; last season we did not concede from a single set-piece until now, yet we’ve allowed nine goals from them this season. Overall, we still maintain possession and create opportunities, but it is apparent that we concede too many goals, and I bear responsibility for that. It seems we are on the verge of achieving different results, but executing the basics correctly is proving to be more challenging than I anticipated.”

Liverpool will seek to return to winning ways on Wednesday in the Champions League as they face Eredivisie leaders PSV, who triumphed 3-2 in their previous encounter last season. Currently, PSV is enjoying an 11-match unbeaten streak. Following this, Slot’s men will resume Premier League action with a trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham.