Arne Slot’s surprising choice as hapless Liverpool drop extra factors towards Man City
Liverpool have dropped more points in the Premier League as Arne Slot’s hapless stars were resoundingly beaten by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester’s grey skies were the least of Arne Slot’s worries on Sunday afternoon as he made the short trip down the M62.
Liverpool and City have shared the last eight Premier League titles – but there was a gulf in class between English football’s modern heavyweights when they met at the Etihad.
The Reds had seemingly stumbled back their feet after back-to-back wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, but they swiftly knocked down by the might of City.
Liverpool lost every battle up and down the pitch, furiously arguing with referee Chris Kavanagh every time they were late to the ball – clattering a sky blue shirt on the way.
It was another poor performance in a season that is quickly turning sour for Slot’s once-shimmering stars. And it all boils down to one decision made by the Dutchman.
Liverpool’s defensive woes have been well-documented this season. Slot has dropped Milos Kerkez in response. On the other flank the lack of form and injuries to Jeremie Frimpong has paved the way for Conor Bradley to establish himself in the side.
Bradley was exceptional in the week against Vinicius Jr, but even he was chasing shadows against an inspired Jeremy Doku.
Doku was a constant thorn in Liverpool’s side, and he took his well-deserved goal, City’s third, with a magical strike that Reds fans have grown used to seeing from Mohamed Salah.
However, the centre-back partnership of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk must be addressed by Slot.
Van Dijk’s powers seem to be waning – he can be aggrieved at his goal being chalked off, but there’s no excuse for his defending for City’s second.
Backpedaling towards his own goal, the Dutchman stuck out a limp leg which left the ball over a flat-footed Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Konate had been pinpointed as the main weakness and City pressed every Liverpool player the Frenchman, who they allowed time on the ball – ready to jump on a misplaced pass.
In the opening 30 minutes, Konate had the most touches on the pitch, the next four were all City players.
Liverpool are thin on the ground at the back, that’s why Slot wanted Marc Guehi, but he can’t keep throwing the Frenchman to the wolves.
The Reds have now lost five of their last six Premier League games, they’ve slipped below Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United and there’s a chasm between themselves and the top of the table.
It’s a kinder run of games for Liverpool, who have Nottingham Forest at home, West Ham away and Sunderland at home next in the Premier League.
All three are must-win, anything else for Slot and for Liverpool, is unacceptable.
