What Has Gone Wrong With Arne Slot’s Liverpool?

What Has Gone Wrong With Arne Slot’s Liverpool

Last season, Liverpool FC soared to the Premier League title under Arne Slot, giving hope that the Reds were reigniting their dominance. The squad looked ready for a sustained period of success.

However, in the current campaign, Liverpool find themselves sliding into crisis: poor results, defensive frailties and under-performing new signings. The gulf between this season and the one just ended is stark and demands deep analysis.

In this article, we dissect the key points that define Liverpool’s collapse so far: tactical issues, flawed recruitment and integration, squad mindset and structural weaknesses under Slot. Our goal is to provide a detailed analytical view of why the title defence has turned into a failure.

Last Season’s Base: What Went Right

To understand the collapse, we must recall the foundation. In the 2024-25 season, Liverpool won the Premier League. They combined attacking power, solid defence, a clear system under Slot’s first year and strong momentum. The league title showed the managerial transition had been smooth, and the squad looked refreshed and capable.

Key points from that season:

• A stable defensive core that supported a title run.
• Attackers delivering consistently when needed.
• A clear structure that suited the squad.
• Cohesion and belief across the dressing room.

With that as the base, expectations were high for another strong season.

What Has Gone Wrong: Key Points of Failure

Here are the main areas where Liverpool have faltered this season.

1. Defensive Instability and Set-Piece Weakness

Liverpool’s defence, previously one of their proudest strengths, is now conceding goals in worrying fashion. Their vulnerability from set-pieces is a major issue, with the team conceding nine goals from such situations in only 12 games, matching last season’s total.

Beyond set-pieces, structural weaknesses are evident:

• Poor coordination in pressing, allowing opponents to exploit spaces.
• Uncertainty in full-back roles and defensive rotations.
• A weakened home presence, with Anfield no longer viewed as an unbreakable fortress.

The defensive backbone that supported last season’s success has collapsed.

2. Recruitment and Integration Failures

Liverpool brought in several new players after winning the league, but their adaptation has been slow and inconsistent.

Key issues include:

• New signings failing to deliver the expected impact early in the season.
• A decline in attacking efficiency, even after significant investment in forwards.
• Questionable selection decisions, including sticking with out-of-form veterans when new signings could have been given more responsibility.

The club spent heavily, yet the team does not look stronger than last season, a major concern for fans and analysts.

3. Tactical Rigidity and Systemic Problems

Arne Slot’s tactical approach is under heavy criticism. Several issues have emerged:

• A system that does not appear to suit the current mix of players.
• A reluctance to adjust the formation to the strengths of the squad.
• Under-utilisation of depth players who could offer solutions.
• In-game management that lacks urgency, especially when the team falls behind.

Instead of evolving tactically, Liverpool look predictable and easy to dissect.

4. Squad Mentality, Cohesion and Momentum Loss

A title defence requires hunger, consistency and mental stability. Liverpool’s current season shows breakdowns in all three.

• Players have publicly admitted moments of panic in matches where the team concedes early.
• Form collapse has set in, with losses piling up over recent weeks.
• After last season’s success, there appears to be a loss of urgency and competitive sharpness.

Maintaining momentum after winning a title is difficult, and Liverpool’s inability to do so has become one of the core reasons for their failure.

5. Expectations vs Reality and the Pressure Cooker

Winning the league brought high expectations. This season’s performances have fallen far short.

Liverpool are now under major scrutiny:

• Pundits calling the drop-off unacceptable.
• Increased pressure from the club hierarchy after heavy summer spending.
• A widening gap between expectations and actual performances.

The weight of pressure has amplified the team’s flaws rather than motivating improvement.

Defining Moments That Signal Failure

Several moments this season clearly mark Liverpool’s collapse:

• Their worst start to a Premier League season in over a decade.
• A dramatic fall in defensive stability and set-piece organisation.
• Significant spending on new players without visible improvement.
• Disjointed team performances and unclear tactical identity.
• A complete loss of momentum from last season’s title-winning run.

These factors collectively show that this season is a major failure relative to the club’s standards.

What Slot Needs to Fix: Key Recommendations

Arne Slot must act quickly to stabilise the season. The main priorities include:

• Resetting the defensive structure and simplifying roles in the back line.
• Adjusting the tactical system to suit the current squad instead of forcing players into roles that do not work.
• Integrating new signings more effectively and phasing out underperforming veterans.
• Rebuilding the team’s mentality, urgency and belief.
• Stopping the negative momentum through consistent performances and clear identity.

A fast and decisive response is essential.

Liverpool’s dramatic fall from Premier League champions to a team fighting structural, tactical and mental battles is not a coincidence. It is the result of multiple failures combining at once: poor defensive organisation, ineffective recruitment, tactical rigidity and declining squad mentality. 

What should have been a season of consolidation has become a season of crisis. To save their campaign, Arne Slot must reverse these issues quickly. The club must rediscover the identity, cohesion and resilience that brought last season’s success or risk falling even further behind.

FAQs

Q1. How did Liverpool perform last season?

A. They won the Premier League title.

Q2. What are the biggest tactical problems this season?

A. Defensive instability, set-piece vulnerability and a system that does not fit the players.

Q3. What recruitment issues have emerged?

A. New signings have struggled to integrate and the attack is underperforming despite investment.

Q4. Is the squad mentality affecting performances?

A. Yes, the team has shown signs of low confidence and fragile mental strength.

Q5. What must Arne Slot fix immediately?

A. The defence, the tactical structure, the integration of new players and the team’s mentality.

Also Read- 40 Year-Old Ronaldo Shocks Football World With Outrageous Bicycle Kick In Al-Nassr’s 4-1 Victory