Liverpool sit 11th in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, but some believe Arne Slott could still be the mastermind behind their success.
Liverpool icon Graeme Souness has insisted his former club are capable of winning the Premier League again this season, despite the gap widening at the top of the table. The Reds have endured a tough season so far, despite starting their title defense with five straight wins.
But there were worrying signs in these opening games, as late wins and chaotic games set the tone for how the rest of the games played out so far. Arne Slott is under pressure to turn things around after losing six of their last seven Premier League games.
The latest defeat came as Liverpool returned from the November international break, with Nottingham Forest putting the Reds to the sword at Anfield. Goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White summed up a miserable afternoon for Slott, whose problems continue to mount.
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Liverpool currently sit in 11th place in the Premier League, 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal, creating a gap that cannot be bridged. Some have questioned whether the Reds can regain any form of form again, but Souness believes his former team can still win the title.
He told TalkSPORT: “Anything can happen in our league. I’ve worked in the big leagues overseas and I’ll tell you, our league is by far the most demanding league anywhere. There’s no rest for the big clubs. So there are still three or four teams that are doing very well and you have to include Liverpool, because I know the reaction of the crowd there. They don’t give up on teams.”
Arsenal icon Martin Keown disagreed with Souness, saying: “In ’81 we lost seven games and won 26. By the way, we won five titles and won back-to-back. It was probably a different Liverpool back then. We’ve already lost six games this year.”
Souness responded: “Martin, you’ve been around the block a few times and you know there’s madness in football. Anything can happen.” Keown responded: “They’re going to have to win almost every game this season…”
But the former Liverpool player has no intention of ruling them out, saying: “I’m not a big gambler and I wouldn’t bet on them, but I think it’s crazy to bet on them unless you’re a very serious gambler.Football is full of surprises, which is why for me it’s the most beloved, most watched and most interesting sport in the world.”
Given his lack of form, Slott takes the blame for his recent struggles, but also outlined where he believes the problem lies. “That’s my responsibility. Win or lose, that’s my responsibility,” he told reporters after Liverpool’s defeat to Nottingham Forest.
“But what I see is the team, by the way, the fans also staying until the end, supporting the team until the end, the players continuing to work until the end. What I saw today was not (Manchester) City. And in City they were not the only team struggling in the first half. And in every other game we played, we were the dominant team and were able to create chances.”
“As I said earlier, most of the time these days we miss chances and then concede when we get chances, but that never lasts all season. We need the energy of the moment when we score a goal.”
In all of their Premier League defeats so far this season, Liverpool have failed to take control of the game, showing how important first goals are. With the front line not performing very well this campaign and the defensive unit becoming more porous, it’s a nightmare combination to find a solution to.
However, Slott has a lucrative game in hand in the Premier League, which could help turn things around for him and his team. With fixtures against West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds United in the coming weeks, Liverpool could be looking to get back to their winning ways.
On the other hand, if the Reds continue to display their recent form, it could just put more pressure on the manager.
