Arne Slot Faces Make-or-Break Moment Against PSV Eindhoven
Serving as Liverpool's manager extends beyond mere footballing duties. It transcends professional obligations, encompassing a pastoral role. It involves being a source of hope and direction during challenging periods. This is what the club, supporters, and local community anticipate from the current head coach, Arne Slot.
When Liverpool tragically lost their beloved striker, Diogo Jota, in a car accident in July, Slot delivered a heartfelt tribute filled with empathy. He consistently speaks touchingly about Jota's mourning family. When a devastating incident occurred involving a vehicle and spectators during Liverpool's championship celebration in May, Slot once again offered solace through his considerate remarks.
Every Liverpool manager dating back to the legendary Bill Shankly in the 1960s and 1970s recognized this additional expectation of their role. Sir Kenny Dalglish embraced this responsibility as club figurehead and emotional anchor during the Hillsborough tragedy of 1989 when 97 Liverpool supporters perished. He attended countless funerals, sometimes four in a single day. The burden so severely affected Dalglish's wellbeing that his body developed rashes and he ultimately stepped down.
During a stay at his residence, I noticed a stress management book on the guest room shelf. Leading Liverpool encompasses more than football duties. Bob Paisley, Gerard Houllier, Jürgen Klopp and others all assumed the role of inspirational figure alongside tactical mastermind.
It represents enormous pressure, which Slot has managed admirably thus far. Liverpool supporters appreciate his community involvement and city engagement. It fills Kopites with pride knowing that when unwell children visit Liverpool's training facility, they are welcomed by Slot when his schedule allows. He genuinely cares.
This compassion explains why Liverpool fans won't hastily criticize Slot for Liverpool's current dreadful form and outcomes. He possesses goodwill reserves. They recall last season when he earned Manager of the Year honors for transforming Klopp's inherited squad into a more organized unit, positioning Ryan Gravenberch as the defensive midfielder, showing decisiveness in team selection and tactical adjustments, leading them to the championship. He succeeded.
The Tide Has Turned for Slot
However, Slot must be cautious of changing sentiment. He faces increasing examination, justifiably so. Liverpool supporters witnessing their team's 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday observe problems from defense to attack that Slot neglects to resolve. He should direct the team to circulate the ball more rapidly from deep positions.
He might deploy Curtis Jones at right-back given Conor Bradley's injury absence. Moving Dominik Szoboszlai back into defense from his effective midfield role simply diminishes Liverpool's central strength. He could select Joe Gomez over the struggling Ibrahima Konate at center-back.
He can rightfully criticize Liverpool's delayed transfer activity and failure to secure Crystal Palace's Marc Guéhi or retain Jarell Quansah instead of selling a talented young academy graduate to Bayer Leverkusen. Quansah's performances in Germany have earned him England selection.
Slot bears responsibility for Liverpool's decline.
He could improve his substitution strategy to prevent Liverpool from adopting a 2-3-5 formation against Forest - insufficient defensive structure, excessive attacking players, and certain tactical chaos. Slot should instruct his players to press more intensely and show greater commitment in tracking opponents. Slot isn't displaying the confidence expected of Manager of the Year.
The Challenges Slot Must Quickly Fix
Particularly troubling for Slot is Tom Werner's presence at the Forest debacle. Werner witnessed £440 million ($576 million) of FSG's summer player investments producing nothing. FSG has provided Slot with quality players: 40 percent of the Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year outfield players started for Slot on Saturday. Virgil van Dijk, Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Mo Salah received recognition for their contributions to Liverpool's league triumph.
Milos Kerkez and Alexander Isak were praised for impressive campaigns at Bournemouth and Newcastle United respectively. These are talented players currently mentally and emotionally confused. Both were substituted early. Kerkez appears anxious, uncertain of his position, possibly overwhelmed by the increased stadium atmosphere, pressure and attention. He's a capable player. Slot must integrate him properly and stabilize him mentally.
Isak's problems are equally tactical. Slot is a skilled coach and Werner might reasonably expect better returns from a £125 million ($163 million) striker than 14 touches and no scoring opportunities against Forest. It's simplistic of Slot to field a striker with Isak's particular abilities without structuring Liverpool to exploit those strengths.
Slot mentions Isak needing to recover sharpness following a disrupted pre-season due to transfer speculation. Yet the Swede has played 497 minutes for Liverpool and 226 internationally, sufficient time to develop rhythm and clinical finishing.
What Isak requires at Liverpool is the delivery style he received at Newcastle United, crosses he can attack and convert. Isak is a clinical finisher who depends on his movement to time runs, evading defenders to reach the ball.
At Newcastle, Jacob Murphy supplied that service (12 assists in 35 Premier League matches last season). At Liverpool, Salah and Cody Gakpo rarely cross. They drift inward from wide positions, combining play or shooting. Salah is Footballer of the Year and difficult to omit, while Gakpo actually began the season positively, but neither maximizes Isak's potential.
Liverpool's rotating full-backs haven't advanced sufficiently to provide the crosses Isak needs. Bradley has managed only 12 crosses in 532 Premier League minutes, many occurring when Isak was substituted or sidelined with a groin injury.
Against teams employing defensive blocks, Isak desires early diagonal passes into space when the defense pushes forward. Who can deliver that now that Trent Alexander-Arnold, master of the 60-yard pass, has departed for Real Madrid?
Prioritise the Champions League
Slot must address this issue. If that requires benching Salah, then that's necessary. If Salah continues, with limited alternatives given Jeremie Frimpong's injury, he must be instructed to deliver crosses promptly.
The decision will temporarily resolve itself when Salah departs for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt next month. Another option Slot should consider is benching Isak and starting Ekitike, a more versatile striker.
Liverpool sit 11th, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, their title defense effectively finished. Champions League advancement will secure Slot's position. Currently eighth in the league phase with nine points from four matches, Liverpool must stay in the top eight to avoid playoffs and ensure favorable seeding for the round of 16.
Wednesday's home fixture against PSV Eindhoven carries crucial importance. Liverpool seem unlikely to collect many points from visits to Inter Milan and Marseille. The French side may be struggling, but Stade Velodrome isn't welcoming for teams lacking confidence.
Liverpool should conclude the league phase with a home win over Qarabag. Will 15 points suffice? Last season's seeding threshold was 16 points. Liverpool's campaign could be determined on Wednesday.
Slot must secure victory. Despite profound appreciation for his compassion, Slot will ultimately face judgment based on outcomes.