Liverpool’s worst run of form in seventy years: The astonishing fall of the Reds
- Anweshan Ghosh
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Defending Premier League champions Liverpool are going through their worst run of form since the 1953/54 season as they fell to their ninth defeat in the previous twelve games.
PSV Eindhoven stunned Anfield as they brushed aside Arne Slot's men 4-1, which was the third time this season that the Reds conceded three or more goals.
The Reds' astonishing downfall has left them hanging in 12th position in the league below sworn rivals Everton and Manchester United, while in the Champions League they're in the 13th position as of now, winning three games and losing two.
Arne Slot's side are not only conceding goals but are also unable to find the back of the net despite having proven goal scorers like Mo Salah, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz in their team.
As December rings its bell on Liverpool's door, the chants of “You'll never walk alone” are louder than ever. Although the Reds started the season in a strong fashion, this poor run of form is not a fluke; it's the result of poor squad building by Slot.
Tragedy had struck Anfield in the summer when a tragic car crash claimed Diogo Jota’s life. The Portuguese forward was a relentless workhorse last season, scoring 18 goals for Arne Slot's side.
However, despite spending over £200m on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike to fill the void of Jota, neither has been able to cement their spot in the starting XI. Isak has started only four games for the Reds since his arrival, and all of them ended up in defeats.
Last season the Dutch manager inherited a set team from Jurgen Klopp and was able to replicate the German’s intensity on the pitch. However, this season Slot has not been able to show his tactical prowess while handling his own assembled squad.
The pressing structure of Liverpool for which they had got so much success over the years looks invisible this season, and defensively they are all over the place. Van Dijk and co. at the back are unable to deal with set pieces, and there seems to be no cohesion between the players at the back.
Slot's side have conceded 20 goals in just 11 games in the league while securing only three clean sheets so far; it is the worst defensive stat by a defending champion in PL history.
Liverpool are ranked first in missing big chances (25) in the league, which shows there are certain fractures in the front as well. The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold has affected the Reds in multiple ways – Salah is unable to create as many chances from the right flank, and defensively Frimpong has not been able to replicate TAA, leaving Konate and VVD exposed to counterattacks.
The new signings have arrived at Anfield with big egos, which has affected the team's chemistry and ultimately contributed to nothing at all so far. Despite all the slack, Arne Slot still believes that his side can turn this situation around. As per reports, the board trusts the Dutch manager and has urged him to save the sinking ship of Liverpool.
“A drowning ship or a ship that needs some fuel?!” How can Liverpool rescue themselves from this mess?
Pressure is undoubtedly rising on Liverpool boss Arne Slot to turn things around at Anfield after a drastic downfall this season. For a club that has won 20 league titles in the English top flight and 6 Champions League titles, the run of form right now is nothing short of a nightmare.
However, Slot has promised the fans that he will “fight on” despite all adversities, urging his players to get back together and pick their confidence up, as at the moment Liverpool play with eleven individuals, not as a team.
The Dutch coach has to trust his tactical system and stick to his 4-2-3-1 system, which brought him success last season. This is not the time for new experiments; the Reds' squad needs stability.
Liverpool should also focus on signing a defender and a winger to add quality along with depth so as to replace an underperforming Mo Salah and Konate. New options in wide areas can provide multiple tactical options for the Dutch manager, and similarly, signing a new defender with leadership abilities is also a necessity.
The Reds do not lack quality and have a pool of talents; once the team finds its stability, they'll get going. The manager has to find the solution to his problem as soon as possible because it's already December and the season will get more competitive as the month progresses.
Arne Slot's side is not a sinking ship; he is in charge of a ship which just needs some fuel which can get it running once again like it used to before.
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