Liverpool supporters have not seen a situation like this in 72 years. In just one year, Arne Slot’s team has transformed from Champions League contenders and potential Premier League champions to a club in turmoil. Currently sitting in 12th place in the Premier League, the Reds have lost six of their last seven matches. Last night, they faced a third consecutive defeat across all competitions, falling 1-4 to PSV at Anfield. This result drops Liverpool to 13th place in the Champions League standings.
“We’re in a tough spot”
Virgil van Dijk committed a clear handball in the box, marking what Telegraph called “his worst performance since joining the Reds.” The Dutch captain is no longer the solid defender he was in 2019, but his coach defended him, stating, “He was pushed a bit, which threw him off balance and led to the handball.” However, this explanation does little to ease fans’ concerns over the team’s alarming performance. Today, the entire squad, from the coach to the players, appears unable to find solutions. Midfielder Curtis Jones offered a candid assessment of the situation.
“I don’t have the answers. Honestly, I don’t. It’s simply unacceptable. I don’t even need to wait to think about it. I’m not angry anymore; I’ve reached a point where I can’t find the words. It’s tough because I’m playing for the team I support. I’ve followed this club my whole life. I haven’t seen Liverpool struggle like this in a long time. But in the end, we still have this badge on our chest. As long as that badge is there, we will keep fighting to bring this team back to where it belongs. We will show everyone what this club is about and why it’s considered one of the best in the world. But right now, we’re in a tough spot, and it has to change,” he told CBS.
Slot claims he has support
As for Slot, he has faced questions for weeks, and his situation worsened last night. Can Liverpool fire the coach who led the club to its 20th Premier League title just months ago? After the match, the Reds’ coach stated he doesn’t feel threatened. “I feel safe. I’m getting a lot of support from my superiors. It would be great to turn this around and get a win, but if you’re an coach and things aren’t going well, it’s normal for questions to arise. I’m comfortable with my position. This isn’t the first time I’ve been in a tough situation, but it’s time to change course. I’ve had discussions, but it’s not like they tell me constantly, ‘We support you.’ We talk a lot when we win, like last season, and they offer their support during tough times,” he explained.
“If you lose this often, it’s normal for people to talk about it. I don’t agree that players aren’t showing their quality, but it’s not reflecting in the scores. I’m not worried because I’m focusing on other aspects rather than my position. I’m trying to analyze and help the players as much as possible, and it’s clear I’m not doing it the same way as last season. Individual errors also come from a collective effort. I have to improve, and I’m working on it every day. It’s a shock for everyone, including the players and myself. This is very unexpected considering the quality we have. After the match, I noticed some players were affected by being down 3-4. The emotions are very negative and disappointing, particularly how we conceded the first goal. I want to remain positive about how the players responded when we were down 1-0. We fought back and had chances to lead 2-1. I don’t think anyone expected we’d end up losing 4-1,” he added.
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