Khaberni - Liverpool is witnessing a deep crisis and a notable deterioration in performance and results. The last season's Premier League champions are currently in fifth place, lagging 21 points behind the leader, a scene that reflects the extent of the collapse that the team has suffered.
The disappointments didn't stop there, as the team was knocked out of local competitions, both the English League Cup and the FA Cup, with the latest shock being a harsh 4-0 defeat by Manchester City in the quarter-finals, last Sunday.
Liverpool vs. Paris Saint-Germain.. A Worrisome Test
As the anticipated clash against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals approaches, fears of a disappointing European exit are mounting, especially since the French team has shown significant attacking strength in the previous rounds.
The worry increases with Liverpool's declining attacking efficacy, epitomized even in Mohamed Salah missing a penalty in the City match, an incident considered by the coach as an accurate reflection of the team's state this season.
5 Points Explaining Liverpool's Collapse This Season As Follows:
1. Recurring Collapse Raises Concerns
At the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool started the match balanced, before gradually collapsing after Erling Haaland scored the opener from a penalty. Haaland didn't stop there; he added a second goal before the end of the first half, completely disrupting the team's plans.
In the second half, Liverpool conceded two quick goals that practically ended the match, a scenario that has repeatedly occurred this season whenever the team faces real pressure.
As a result, Liverpool's number of defeats has risen to 15 in various competitions, the highest number since the 2014-2015 season under Brendan Rodgers, reflecting a significant decline compared to last season.
2. Slot Disappoints Expectations
The pressure is evidently mounting on Dutch coach Arne Slot, as many observers believe he has not lived up to expectations, especially after the golden era led by Jürgen Klopp. Despite winning the league title last season, some believe that the victory - in their view - masked many problems, as it also came as a result of competitors like Arsenal and Manchester City stumbling more than being a reflection of absolute dominance by the Reds.
Slot inherited a ready team from Klopp, which helped him succeed locally in his first season, but he failed to evolve it or maintain the same strength, particularly at the European level, where the team appeared helpless against organized and strong teams.
3. Absence of Identity and Reactions
One of Liverpool's major issues this season is the lack of a clear tactical identity, as Slot has not managed to balance defense and offense, and the reliance on high pressing and counter-pressing has declined. Even more dangerous is the repeated scenario of collapsing after conceding goals, as noted by the player Dominik Szoboszlai, pointing to the lack of fighting spirit and the necessary mentality to come back in the matches.
Slot himself acknowledged the existence of "repeated patterns" in the team's decline, the most notable being the inability to regain balance under pressure, which reflects a mental and tactical dysfunction at the same time.
4. Deals That Did Not Pay Off
Despite signing promising young names such as Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak, these acquisitions did not make the expected impact, partly due to a lack of synergy and unclear roles within the team, which cost Liverpool one of its supposed main strengths this season.
5. Mohamed Salah's Crisis Complicates Matters
The situation was further complicated by Slot's unnecessary conflict with Mohamed Salah at a crucial time. Instead of containing the decline in the Egyptian star’s performance, these tensions deepened the crisis in the locker room.
When compared with other coaches like Hansi Flick, the difference in managing players becomes apparent, as Flick has succeeded in reviving players at Barcelona, while Slot has not been able to bring out the best in his stars.
An Uncertain Future for Liverpool
Despite escalating criticisms, there are no official indications so far of Liverpool's management's intention to dismiss the coach, yet the continuation of negative results might jeopardize his future, especially with crucial commitments remaining.
In the end, Liverpool stands at a real crossroads: either quickly restore balance and salvage its European season, or exit with a barren season that resets the team to square one, raising major questions about its technical and managerial future.
