Liverpool’s Problems: Five Ways Arne Slot Can Fix the Crisis

The rapid transformation of Liverpool’s fortunes under Arne Slot has stunned the football world, but for all the wrong reasons. After opening the 2025/26 season with five consecutive victories and over £400 million invested in new talent, the Reds appeared destined to dominate English football once again. However, three successive Premier League defeats have exposed fundamental flaws in Slot’s system, leaving the reigning champions facing their most serious crisis since the Dutch manager’s appointment.

The dramatic shift from title favorites to a team struggling for consistency highlights the precarious nature of modern football, where even the most promising starts can quickly unravel. For Slot, who inherited Jurgen Klopp’s legacy and the expectation of continued success, the pressure is mounting to find immediate solutions before Liverpool’s season spirals beyond recovery.

The Defensive Catastrophe That’s Undermining Everything

Liverpool’s defensive regression represents the most alarming aspect of their recent struggles, with the statistics painting a stark picture of decline that threatens to derail their entire campaign. The contrast between this season and their title-winning form is devastating, revealing systematic failures that extend far beyond individual errors.

The numbers expose a defensive unit that has lost its organizational structure and mental fortitude. Most concerning is Liverpool’s vulnerability from set-pieces, where they’ve conceded five goals compared to zero at the same stage last season. Only West Ham United and Nottingham Forest have conceded more set-piece goals, placing Liverpool among the league’s worst defensive teams in dead-ball situations.

Beyond set-pieces, Liverpool have become alarmingly susceptible to counter-attacks, conceding two or more goals in eight of their 12 Premier League matches since May – more than any other team. This vulnerability stems from their high defensive line becoming disconnected from their midfield press, creating vast spaces for opponents to exploit during transitions.

The criticism of Ibrahima Konate from former Liverpool striker Michael Owen highlights individual concerns, but as Jamie Carragher observed on Sky Sports: “Liverpool are just not at the races at all defensively. Until they fix that, they can’t win the league.” The issue extends beyond any single player to encompass systemic failures in positioning, communication, and tactical discipline.

The Full-Back Dilemma: Kerkez’s Struggles and Frimpong’s Integration

Arne Slot’s full-back selections have become a source of constant instability, with both flanks presenting significant challenges that opponents are increasingly exploiting. The summer acquisition of Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth was intended to strengthen the left-back position, but the Hungarian’s adaptation has been problematic, drawing fierce criticism for his performances.

Jamie Redknapp’s assessment that Kerkez played “like a nervous wreck” against Manchester United reflects broader concerns about the defender’s confidence and decision-making. The statistics support these observations, with Kerkez making two errors leading to opposition shots this season – a tally matched only by Ibrahima Konate among Liverpool players and exceeded by just two Premier League players overall.

On the opposite flank, Jeremie Frimpong’s integration has been hampered by early injury setbacks and Slot’s tactical indecision. The former Bayer Leverkusen defender has found himself competing with Conor Bradley and even Dominik Szoboszlai for the right-back position, preventing him from establishing the consistency needed to reach his potential.

Marc Cucurella’s post-match comments following Chelsea’s victory highlighted how opponents are targeting Liverpool’s full-back instability. The Spanish defender noted: “I think they play one style of game where Salah is always ready to attack so we prepare for that. If we do a good press, maybe we will have a lot of space in there.”

Most concerning is the pattern emerging where Liverpool’s goals conceded originate from attacks down one side that exploit the space behind their full-backs, ultimately creating chances at the far post. This suggests a fundamental disconnect between Liverpool’s attacking ambitions and defensive responsibilities.

The Mohamed Salah Question: Icon or Liability?

The debate surrounding Mohamed Salah’s role in Slot’s system has reached unprecedented levels, with club legend Jamie Carragher publicly questioning whether the Egyptian should remain a guaranteed starter. This represents a seismic shift in perception around a player who has been Liverpool’s talisman for nearly a decade.

Carragher’s assessment on The Gary Neville Podcast was stark: “I think we’re at that stage now where Salah shouldn’t be a guaranteed starter every week. I do think this is a real conundrum for the manager going forward.” The statistics supporting this argument are particularly damaging for a player of Salah’s stature.

The decline is unmistakable across every meaningful metric. Salah’s goals and assists per 90 minutes have plummeted from 1.25 last season to just 0.51 this campaign. His shot frequency has nearly halved, while his touches in the penalty area have dropped significantly, suggesting he’s either receiving fewer opportunities or failing to get into dangerous positions.

Perhaps most concerning is his successful take-on percentage, which has collapsed to just 10% – a figure that indicates either a dramatic loss of pace and agility or a fundamental change in how opponents are defending against him. The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who provided crucial creative support down the right flank, has clearly impacted Salah’s effectiveness.

The seven-match streak without a non-penalty goal represents the longest such run of Salah’s Liverpool career, raising questions about whether his decline is temporary or permanent. With Federico Chiesa and Frimpong offering alternative options, Slot faces the difficult decision of whether to persist with his star player or make the bold move to drop him.

The Strike Partnership Puzzle: Isak vs. Ekitike

The contrasting fortunes of Liverpool’s two summer striking acquisitions present Arne Slot with both an opportunity and a dilemma. Alexander Isak’s struggles since his record-breaking transfer from Newcastle United stand in stark contrast to Hugo Ekitike’s immediate impact, creating a selection headache that could define Liverpool’s season.

Isak’s adaptation difficulties stem partially from his disrupted pre-season, having missed crucial preparation time while forcing his transfer. The Swedish striker appears behind the pace of Premier League football, managing just one shot on target in four league appearances while failing to register a goal or assist. His lack of match fitness and familiarity with Liverpool’s system has rendered him ineffective during crucial matches.

Conversely, Ekitike’s seamless transition from Eintracht Frankfurt demonstrates what’s possible when signings click immediately. The French striker scored in each of his first three games and netted five goals in his first eight appearances before injury disrupted his momentum. His understanding of Slot’s tactical demands and natural finishing ability offer Liverpool an immediate solution to their goal-scoring problems.

The possibility of deploying both strikers simultaneously presents an intriguing tactical option that Slot explored successfully against Frankfurt. This system could provide Liverpool with greater physical presence in the penalty area while offering different types of attacking threats – Isak’s movement and pace complementing Ekitike’s finishing and link-up play.

However, accommodating both strikers would require significant tactical adjustments, potentially pushing Cody Gakpo to the left wing and altering Liverpool’s midfield balance. The success of this approach would depend on whether Liverpool’s creativity from midfield can supply sufficient chances for both forwards.

Unlocking Florian Wirtz: The £116 Million Enigma

The struggle to maximize Florian Wirtz’s considerable talents represents perhaps the most pressing challenge facing Arne Slot. The German playmaker’s £116 million transfer fee creates enormous expectations, but his adaptation to English football has been frustratingly slow, raising questions about both his positioning and Liverpool’s tactical approach.

Wirtz’s statistical output reveals a player creating opportunities but failing to convert them into meaningful contributions. Despite managing 14 chances created in Premier League action – the eighth-most among all players – he went months without a goal or assist until his recent contributions against Frankfurt. This disconnect between creation and end product suggests tactical rather than individual problems.

Jamie Carragher’s tactical solution involves deploying Wirtz in the left channel where he excelled for both Germany and Bayer Leverkusen. “Wirtz can’t be kept on the bench forever,” Carragher noted on Sky Sports. “He plays in that left channel for Germany and that is where he did so well at Leverkusen.” This positioning would allow Wirtz to drift infield while providing the creative spark Liverpool desperately needs.

The Frankfurt performance, where Wirtz assisted goals for both Gakpo and Szoboszlai, demonstrated his potential impact when given appropriate tactical freedom. His ability to find space between the lines and deliver precise passes could transform Liverpool’s attacking patterns, particularly if integrated with the pace of Kerkez overlapping from left-back.

However, successful integration requires Liverpool to adjust their pressing structure and positional discipline. Wirtz’s preference for roaming requires teammates to cover his defensive responsibilities, demanding tactical modifications that Slot has been reluctant to implement consistently.

Systematic Solutions: The Path Forward

The resolution of Liverpool’s current crisis requires comprehensive tactical adjustments rather than isolated changes. Slot must address the interconnected nature of his team’s problems while maintaining the identity that made Liverpool successful under his management.

The defensive restructuring should begin with set-piece organization, where Liverpool’s vulnerability has been most exposed. Implementing zonal marking systems with designated runners could reduce the confusion that has led to five preventable goals. Additionally, establishing clearer communication protocols and rehearsing defensive transitions could eliminate the organizational breakdowns that opponents are exploiting.

The full-back situation demands decisive action from Slot. Rather than rotating constantly, he should identify his strongest combination and persist with it, allowing players to develop understanding and confidence. Andy Robertson’s experience could stabilize the left side while Frimpong’s pace and attacking threat warrant consistent opportunities on the right.

For the midfield and attack, Slot must choose between prioritizing possession-based control or reverting to the more direct approach that brought Liverpool success. The current hybrid system satisfies neither approach fully, leaving players confused about their roles and responsibilities.

The Time Factor: Patience vs. Pressure

Liverpool’s crisis occurs within the broader context of Premier League expectations, where patience is a luxury few managers can afford. While the Frankfurt victory demonstrated the potential of Slot’s new signings working together, the pressure for immediate improvement remains intense.

The fact that Liverpool have 13.9 expected points according to Opta – just 3.1 fewer than league leaders Arsenal – suggests their underlying performance isn’t catastrophically poor. However, the gap between expected and actual results indicates either poor finishing, defensive errors, or both.

Slot’s challenge involves balancing the need for immediate results with the long-term project of integrating £400 million worth of new talent. The upcoming fixtures will determine whether Liverpool can arrest their decline or face a season-defining crisis that could undermine everything Slot is trying to build.

Read More: Alexander Isak at Liverpool: Why the £125M Star Is Struggling to Find his Form

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