Reflecting on last year’s weekend, Liverpool fans were in high spirits as they traveled to Chelsea, armed with balloons and a slew of inflatables, proudly proclaiming their status as champions at every opportunity.
Having been crowned England’s kings just a week earlier, the celebrations were still in full swing. For many supporters, particularly the younger ones, this period was nothing short of a dream come true, marking one of the most memorable times of their lives.
Fast forward a year, and the atmosphere is starkly different. Those same fans are eagerly anticipating the conclusion of a disheartening and draining season.
It seems the lessons from the countless errors that have marred this season remain unlearned. This marked their 11th league loss of the season and their 18th across all competitions, a record they haven’t seen since the 2009-10 campaign.
Many of these defeats followed a familiar script: flashes of brilliance overshadowed by moments of vulnerability, sloppiness, and naivety.
In their recent match, Liverpool displayed their potential during a 20-minute surge just after halftime. However, for most of the game, they were outplayed. While they could take some pride in their second-half efforts, the damage inflicted by a lackluster, error-prone first half had already sealed their fate.
A year after celebrating the title, Liverpool fans cannot wait for this abhorrent season to end
The champions suffered yet another defeat against bitter rivals Manchester United on Sunday
Alongside seven draws, Liverpool have now dropped points in more games than they have won. The same problems that were cropping up in the early months of the season are still commonplace now. Slot is not fixing the issues, they are just coasting along.
They have conceded 17 goals from set-pieces this term, their most on record, and always look weak defensively. The midfield is far too passive, the once-formidable duo of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are now shadows of their former selves.
Florian Wirtz, the £116million signing, simply does not do enough for a player of that price-tag. The German is a young lad settling into a new culture who is clearly feeling the pressure but we must see more of a return on that investment next year.
He has not registered a goal or assist in the league against a team higher than 10th in the current table. A supposed game-changer signing does not change games whereas another target and fellow summer arrival, Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, is setting the world alight.
Alexander Isak reported a minor groin problem in the week so missed this match, while Mohamed Salah was watching from the stands having been ruled out with a hamstring issue. Without those two, and long-term absentee Hugo Ekitike, the Reds were toothless in attack.
It also raised a wider issue that replacing Salah will be harder than many may think. Even though he has been nowhere near his best, the Egyptian is still better than most in the league.
Signing just one forward to replace him this summer arguably leaves them short, noting Isak’s fitness issues and the fact Ekitike, who has ruptured his Achilles, will be out for a sizable chunk of next season.
‘Too often we’ve seen this type of performance… soft and weak,’ said Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports, who added that Wirtz has had an ‘easy ride’ with critics and he is spot on with both counts – though it is worth pointing out the attacking midfielder is far from their biggest issue.
In Slot’s defence, he did have a threadbare squad given those injuries but this was still an expensively-assembled XI where 10 of 11 players had won a league title, either last season at Liverpool or in other countries before signing.
The head coach always comes armed with a long list of mitigating factors such as injuries, profligacy in front of goal and referees. He has a case on some counts but these issues have been obvious from week one of the season. It is now week 35 and he has not fixed it.
Slot said: ‘I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone this season that if there’s a VAR intervention or if there’s something that could be left or could be right (50-50) then the decision goes against us.
Arne Slot’s side have shown glimpses of quality, overwritten by vulnerable and naive football
‘That has been the whole season every single time this season. I remember Paris Saint-Germain at home, getting a penalty for a soft touch on Mac Allister but of course the VAR intervenes and says no, no, no, this is not a penalty. Then one week later when I see Paris Saint-Germain play against Bayern Munich and get that same soft touch but the penalty stays.
‘I saw last week my goalkeeper on the floor with an injury and the referee doesn’t stop the game. I see a player of United off the pitch today and the referee stops the game when we try to play on.
‘That has been our whole season. But the second goal we didn’t concede because of a handball, we conceded it because we lost the ball in a stupid position and we lost a few big moments afterwards in duels.
‘We have to first look at ourselves, that is completely clear and obvious, but that decisions have gone every single game against us, that’s also completely clear and obvious.’
Just when one thought Liverpool had started to turn a corner with three straight wins, they take another alarming step backwards. Yes, they were back in this game at 2-2 but both of the Reds’ goals were handed to them on a silver platter as United tried their best to toss away the win.
With three games to play, Slot and Co must start to show us proof that they will learn from the vulnerabilities that have made following their fortunes this season an arduous, taxing journey for many fans.
