Liverpool manager Arne Slott’s second season at Anfield was a disaster (Image: Getty)
Whatever happens in today’s game against Brentford, Liverpool are likely to qualify for next season’s Champions League. And if the Reds finish fifth, they will owe a huge debt of gratitude to UEFA for introducing the European Performance Spot last season. They’re not the worst champions of all time, but they deserve all the criticism they’ve faced. Their performance was disastrously poor. They are able to qualify for the Champions League primarily because of the mistakes of their rivals. And Arne Slott has to shoulder most of the responsibility.
When you look at these numbers, it becomes painfully clear how bad Liverpool are. The slot side have suffered 20 defeats in all competitions this season. Not since Liverpool were promoted to the top flight in 1962 have they faced such difficulties. For the first time ever, the Merseyside side conceded over 50 goals in 38 Premier League games (currently 52 goals conceded). They leaked 77 in all competitions.
Despite having two giants in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have conceded the most goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season with 20 goals, with 11 of those goals coming from corners. What is their biggest problem? Between September and May, there was no evidence of improvement.
Liverpool are still being managed as badly as they were at the beginning of the season. They are less than the sum of their parts. They are flawed defensively, unable to defend set pieces, clinical in possession, wasteful in attack and worst of all for the Kop, they are boring to watch.
This Liverpool team didn’t lose its ability overnight. If you watch them play, you’ll think otherwise. That is why the responsibility lies with the manager and the club must take action. The statistics prove that Slott was an average manager at Liverpool for longer than he was a very good manager. When was the last time they were truly elite? February 2025.
In his first 29 Premier League games, he averaged 2.40 points per game (91 points in 38 games). Since losing to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final, they have dropped to an average of 1.59 ppg (63 points per season) in their last 46 Premier League games.
In his last 32 Premier League games, that percentage drops to 1.38 ppg since Liverpool opened the 2026-27 season with five consecutive league wins. That’s just 52 points through 38 games on the season. If that happens, they will fall to 8th place this season and 13th place last season.
Arne Slott’s Liverpool have lost 20 games this season. (Image: Getty)
Even if Liverpool somehow manage to beat Brentford 8-0, Slott should be sacked tonight. Spoiler wise, they would never do that. You are more likely to draw or lose than win.
Were the Dutch unlucky? Yes, that’s very true. He had to deal with things last summer that no coach should have to deal with. It obviously affected this team. On top of that, the team has been plagued by injuries. The recruitment staff did not properly fill in the impending monsters Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez. They neglected to sign another centre-back.
Slots are not solely responsible. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve criticism, and he didn’t say anything positive enough to suggest things will improve next year. That’s the biggest problem. But his players also have to take a big responsibility. Some of them should follow him out the door in the coming weeks and months.
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are already on their way out. Alisson Becker could follow in their footsteps, but Liverpool can and should keep him. Unless their plans are to re-sign Caoihin Kelleher or lure James Trafford away from Manchester City.
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Liverpool had a very dominant season as champions. (Image: Getty)
Perhaps Jeremy Frimpong should also be sold if Liverpool can replace him with another straight-up player. He hasn’t shown anything to suggest he’s at the level he needs to be. Alexis Mac Allister is no more. The Argentine’s decline is incredible and he should head overseas to Spain, Germany or Italy, where the pace of the league is better suited to his tired legs.
Ibrahima Konate’s contract turmoil has been going on for a long time. If he demands a huge wage to remain at Anfield, let him go. Jeremy Jaquet could take over as Virgil van Dijk’s partner next season. Federico Chiesa also improved his time in L4. He is also far from standard despite his great attitude.
They may not be the only players participating. Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones could also leave. As with Alisson, Liverpool should ideally try to keep the pair. They should already have enough signatures. A chaotic summer awaits. And if the Reds want to close the gap on champions Arsenal, one slot should not be in charge.
