Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s problems pile up as blip now becomes deeper
Liverpool, a shadow of the effective machine that roamed the Premier League last season, have looked vulnerable since day one of this season, losing the Community Shield to Crystal Palace at Wembley.
They are riddled with flaws, which are remarkable considering Slots have been given almost £450 million to power the new champions.
And for all the understanding that even star names signing record-breaking deals such as £116 million for Florian Wirtz and £125 million for Alexander Isak require an adjustment period, ultimately neither produced anything close enough.
Isak was again anonymous as he was selected ahead of the much livelier Hugo Ekitike, while Wirtz once again had to make do with coming off the bench.
Their proven quality will make Liverpool optimistic their big spending will be rewarded, but their total contribution of £241m so far has been little more than non-existent.
“Arne Slot has a few decisions to make,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told 5 Live.
“Szobozslai looks like a better right-back and from that position he moves into midfield, but does he like being there? No, but it would be better for the good of the team.”
“Then Frimpong came in from the right and had more influence than Salah for most of the game in about 10 minutes. He put two outstanding balls into the box and Gakpo should have scored from one of them. Ekiike did more than Isak when he got on top.”
Liverpool, which had a calm atmosphere full of deadly threats last season, now exudes an air of chaos and lack of organization, especially in defensive work.
Milos Kerkez had another poor fight, almost unknowingly scoring an own goal in the second half, which summed up Liverpool’s defence.
As Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister lies prone with a head injury caused by an accidental elbow from captain Virgil van Dijk, the debate will continue over whether referee Michael Oliver should have stopped play.
Instead the game continued; Bryam Mbeumo took advantage of Van Dijk’s slow reaction to recover his position and finish the match smartly past Liverpool’s assistant goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
