Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool: Arne Slot under increasing pressure after another loss
At Old Trafford, United gifted them a way back into the game Liverpool were still losing, with Slot’s men failing to beat a team that had lost their previous six Premier League games against Chelsea.
On Friday night in Birmingham, the only real threat they faced all evening came from 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha. Give the youngster credit for being one of the rare sparks of joy this season, but Liverpool needed top players.
Liverpool are weak in midfield and defence, conceding more than 50 goals (52) for the first time in the 38-game Premier League season. Excluding penalties, they are the team that has conceded the most goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season (20).
“We conceded too many goals but I also think we didn’t score enough,” Slot told Sky Spots. “We were completely in the game, maybe we were in a position to get a result, but I agree that we fell apart after 2-1.”
Ollie Watkins, who took two of those chances in the chaotic second half, said: “They’re scattered at the back and I feel there’s a lot of space I can run into. I’ll take chances against them.”
With one point from Liverpool’s last three games, there is still a chance that Bournemouth or Brighton can take last place in the Champions League.
It is entirely Liverpool’s fault that they can host Brentford at Anfield next weekend, where Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will bid farewell. Either way, it’s hard to see how Slot regains its fan base from here.
“There are extenuating circumstances from pre-season,” former Reds midfielder Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports.
“You can’t solve problems when their best players are unavailable, but a lot of that is his responsibility.” [Slot] If they don’t get Champions League football, they will be under pressure and there will be question marks.
“They’re an educated fanbase, they’re not actually hostile to their manager – but you see, you hear, maybe a lot of people are turning away from wanting him as manager next year.
“I really struggle with that because when you win the league a year ago and then decide the next year that you want to get rid of the manager, that doesn’t sit well with me. I think he deserves another year after winning the Premier League title. But I expect better next year.”
