Liverpool are in the midst of a crisis after losing six of their last seven games in all competitions, with Arne Slot’s side in desperate need of three points against Aston Villa
Liverpool are set to clash with Aston Villa on Saturday night, with the Reds in dire need of a victory. Arne Slot’s team are currently grappling with a crisis that has seen them lose six of their last seven matches.
This is unfamiliar territory for Slot, who took the Premier League by storm last year by clinching the title in his debut season. Liverpool’s season plunged to a new low on Wednesday when they suffered a third defeat this term at the hands of Crystal Palace, who stormed to a 3-0 victory over a second-string Liverpool side in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
The future of Slot is now a hot topic among fans. While the 47-year-old has some leeway thanks to his title win, the Reds are about to embark on a pivotal period that could provide more insight into the Dutchman’s standing. Following the match against Villa, Liverpool will host another home game on Tuesday, welcoming Real Madrid to Anfield in the Champions League.
They then travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday week before the upcoming international break. Here’s all the latest news from Anfield.
Shearer delivers verdict on Slot’s job security
Newcastle icon Alan Shearer has labelled the talk about Arne Slot being given the boot as ‘an overreaction’, but conceded that the pressure will mount if Liverpool don’t secure a win against Villa on Saturday night, reports the Mirror.
Shearer told Betfair: “In terms of Arne Slot losing his job – yes, without a doubt it’s an overreaction. He did a great job last year.
“I know he came into a very good football club with some excellent players, and they didn’t add a lot to it, hardly anything, really. But he still did a great job last year, and obviously Liverpool are really struggling now.
“I wouldn’t say crisis just yet – but they’re in a very sticky situation. We might have to use the word crisis if Villa beat them at Anfield on Saturday. For now, I’d say it’s a sticky situation rather than a full-blown crisis.
“I thought it was a huge gamble that backfired against Palace. Having said that, if they win on Saturday and again on Tuesday, then from his point of view it could prove to be the right decision – because the Carabao Cup would have been low on the priority list.
“But when you’re a club already struggling and desperately in need of a result, it’s risky to put out that sort of side and those substitutes. If you lose narrowly, say 1–0 to a dodgy decision – fine. But when you’re battered at home and Palace fans are singing ‘Can we play you every week?’, that’s damaging.
“We won’t know the full extent of the fallout until after Saturday evening’s result. It’s put more pressure on the players who’ll come back in for the Villa game at Anfield. If they win, he’ll say it was the right decision – but they have to win now after that selection.”
He continued: “If they lose on Saturday, I don’t see them in the title race. If they win, build confidence, they’ve still got the quality to go on a big run. Saturday evening is huge – another defeat, and I think they’re out of it.”
Former Liverpool star makes transfer window assertion
Liverpool’s summer transfer window was the envy of the Premier League.
Nevertheless, despite their massive expenditure reaching above £400 million, the Reds offloaded the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez from their squad, while also suffering the devastating loss of Diogo Jota.
They also failed to secure Marc Guehi after a deal for the Palace defender collapsed at the final moment. Speaking following the Carabao Cup loss to Crystal Palace, Slot lamented the shortage of depth in his squad compared to competitors.
“I saw [Manchester] City’s line-up and I don’t think they had one starter from the weekend but it felt as if – if you look at their line-up – that they had played with their 11 starters,” Slot said.
“Maybe that gives a little bit of an insight that everybody has always said how big of a squad we have. When we played Chelsea I said they are missing eight but they can still bring Estevao in.
“We are only missing four players at the moment and already we needed to start with four players under the age of 19. After I made two substitutions we were on six.”
Ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock interprets these comments as a sign of Slot’s dissatisfaction with Liverpool’s transfer dealings, suggesting that despite the hefty spending, the squad is still lacking in depth.
“Arne Slot has almost admitted there that the squad is not strong enough,” the former Liverpool full-back commented on BBC Radio 5 Live. “It was very much deflecting and making excuses.”
He added: “You’re a team in the Champions League, yet you’re moaning that you’re playing a game two days later. You know that is going to happen. I felt there were a lot of excuses in there.
You know your squad depth isn’t the best, then your business hasn’t been good enough in the summer. “
Joe Cole’s advice for Wirtz
Florian Wirtz has had a challenging start at Anfield since his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen. The £116 million star has only started two of the last five Premier League games and is yet to make a mark on the score sheet or assist tally.
However, ex-Liverpool player Joe Cole thinks Wirtz could actually benefit from more time on the sidelines. “Yes, Florian Wirtz’s signing has disrupted the Liverpool midfield, but not in a way that can be laid at Florian Wirtz’s feet,” Cole stated. “There’s no doubt he’s a top player.
You don’t play number 10 for Germany, and win the league over in the Bundesliga, and produce what he did at Bayer Leverkusen, without being quality. We know he’s quality, and he’s shown it in flashes.
“”Don’t lay the blame on the four players coming in, or the four players coming out, or the manager, it’s just a collection of everything. ” Cole reckons Liverpool are crying out for something of a gentle reset to get their squad firing on all cylinders once more.”
In hindsight, if Liverpool could do a restart of the season, they’d have probably put one or two players into the team, and we’ll keep with what we’re doing, and just gradually change it,” he explained. “By January, you’ll start looking to get Wirtz into the squad, into the team regularly, giving the time to come off the bench.
“Chatting to Paddy Power, Cole went on: “Whether he’s the right player for Liverpool or the Premier League, he’s going to have to prove that. He can’t shy away from that.
There are certain players, good players, who go to clubs, and they just don’t fit.”