After enduring a fourth straight defeat for the first time in more than a decade, Liverpool’s blip is turning into a full-blown crisis under manager Arne Slot’s desperate search for solutions.
Manchester United defeated the Reds 2-1 on Sunday to claim their first victory at Anfield since January 2016.
An expected improvement in performances has not been realized, despite Liverpool’s successful seven-game winning run at the start of the season, which was bolstered by a flurry of late goals.
For the first time since November 2014, when Brendan Rodgers was in charge, they have now lost four straight games in a row across all competitions.
The pressing issues that Slot must address in order to save Liverpool’s season are examined by AFP Sport.
Mohamed Salah appears to be a shadow of the man who terrorized defenses last season as he attempted to capture the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
The “Egyptian King,” who frequently serves as Liverpool’s attack’s pivot, has only one goal in Premier League open play this season in the opening weekend.
He admitted to squandering two important chances against United on Sunday.
In the most recent Champions League defeat at Galatasaray, the forward was cut out of the starting lineup and was brutally sent off on Sunday despite Liverpool’s desperate attempt to equalize.
Although Slot will hope that the player’s form will improve temporarily since signing a new two-year contract in April, there are still questions about whether or not his best days are over.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who is now a Sky Sports pundit, believes Salah shouldn’t be guaranteed a spot every week.
With the form he’s in, Salah shouldn’t start any games right now, especially away from home, he said on Sky.
He said, “Would he like that?” Not likely. Where is your argument, though, especially when you’re not playing well once you’ve reached a certain age?
READ MORE: Maguire Demands Man Utd to Build On Liverpool’s Triumph
Attempting signatures
In the summer transfer window, Slot made the bold move, spending more than $ 450 million ($604 million) on new signings.
The club twice broke their own transfer record by signing Newcastle forward Alexander Isak and playmaker Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
However, neither player has yet to score a Premier League goal.
Hugo Ekitike, another big-money arrival, has made a comeback, but he now appears to be responsible for Isak’s poor pecking order.
Diogo Jota’s death in a car accident in July contributed to Liverpool’s substantial spending on forwards.
The Portuguese club’s decision to not have the 28-year-old international is the elephant in the room.
Milos Kerkez, a newcomer to the left-back position where he has been preferred over Andy Robertson, has struggled to find his footing on the other side of the pitch, and Jeremie Frimpong has failed to nail down his spot on the other flank.
defensive crisis
Could Liverpool lose the title to Crystal Palace if they didn’t make Marc Guehi their central defender on the transfer deadline day?
In eight of their 12 league games, Liverpool has conceded two goals more goals than any other team since the start of May.
In their eighth league game, Slot’s men have allowed 11 goals, a whopping three more than Arsenal, who are Premier League leaders.
Robertson and the recently retired Trent Alexander-Arnold were ineffectively filled by Kerkez and Frimpong in the back-up roles.
Even Virgil van Dijk, the typically imperious captain, was criticized for his poor performances, and centre-back Ibrahima Konate was involved in Bryan Mbeumo’s opener on Sunday.
Guehi has informed Crystal Palace that he will not accept a new contract, which could lead to his departure in January or the end of the season.
Even if the England defender chooses Liverpool over other potential suitors, it may not be enough or late.
