Pressure Mounts on Arne Slot as Liverpool Struggle to Find Their Rhythm

This season has been a difficult one for reigning Premier League champions Liverpool. They currently sit 12th in the table after 12 games, with six wins and six defeats. After five matches, they had maintained a perfect record and were top of the league. However, they have since picked up just one win and now find themselves 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Liverpool have suffered back-to-back 3–0 defeats to Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, with the loss to Forest at Anfield shocking supporters. With a busy Christmas schedule approaching, pressure is mounting on manager Arne Slot, as the next run of fixtures could define their season. Expectations were high following last year’s success and a summer in which the club broke the British transfer record twice, first for Florian Wirtz and next Alexander Isak.

Let’s examine what has gone wrong for Liverpool and whether the owners will consider a managerial change.

What Is Going Wrong for Liverpool?

Liverpool have lost six of their last seven Premier League matches, with their only win in that period coming in a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa. There is no single cause for their slump; rather, several interconnected issues have contributed to their sharp decline in form.

The club underwent significant changes during the summer, with several important players departing from their title-winning squad. Liverpool made seven signings and spent €482.90m (including add-ons), but also lost key players such as Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Additionally, valuable squad players—Caoimhin Kelleher (€14.80m), Jarell Quansah (€35.00m), Harvey Elliott (loan), and Konstantinos Tsimikas (loan)—all departed, despite playing important roles last season.

Replacing so many influential figures has proven challenging. Liverpool particularly miss Díaz’s pace and dribbling ability, as well as Alexander-Arnold’s playmaking and control in build-up play. The newcomers, meanwhile, are under pressure to perform immediately after last season’s success.

Another major factor has been the tragic death of teammate Diogo Jota. Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car accident on 3 July, and the emotional impact on the squad has been profound. On the pitch, Liverpool miss Jota’s finishing, intelligence, and relentless work rate. Off the pitch, his absence in the dressing room has been deeply felt. Players are grieving daily, and even subconsciously, their focus and intensity may understandably be affected football becomes secondary in moments like this.

Will Slot Be Given Time?

Arne Slot is under real pressure for the first time since replacing Jürgen Klopp. However, his achievements last season have given him credit with both supporters and the club’s ownership. Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are not known for making rash decisions. Throughout their tenure, they have typically given managers time to navigate difficult periods. The only exception came in 2011 when they dismissed Roy Hodgson—a manager they had not appointed. Brendan Rodgers, for example, was given multiple seasons despite mixed results.

Jürgen Klopp also faced early struggles, but the owners remained patient and were ultimately rewarded with major honours, including the 2019 Champions League and the 2020 Premier League title. Slot faced the enormous challenge of succeeding Klopp, yet he exceeded expectations by winning the league in his first season. Given that track record, there is every reason to believe he will be afforded the time needed to steady the ship and guide Liverpool through this difficult spell.

Conclusion

Liverpool are experiencing a tough period, but history shows the club tends to back its managers. The current squad is filled with talented players who have proved their quality both at Liverpool and elsewhere. If they can regain confidence and momentum, there is still plenty of time for them to turn the season around.

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