View ImageLiverpool boss Arne Slot is struggling to find the answers for his team’s sudden slump in form (Image: AP)
Liverpool legend John Aldridge has called on Reds head coach Arne Slot to “step up” after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Brentford. Slot’s men have now lost four straight Premier League games and could fall seven points behind leaders Arsenal if the Gunners beat Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Dango Ouattara finished off a signature Brentford long throw to put the Bees ahead around five minutes in. Kevin Schade then raced clear into the huge gap behind Liverpool’s defence to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.
Milos Kerkez gave Slot’s side a lifeline after scoring just before the break. But Brentford restored their two-goal advantage from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have committed a foul in the Liverpool box following a VAR check.
A late strike from Mohamed Salah set up a dramatic finish in west London, but Slot’s team were unable to muster an equaliser. Saturday’s loss leaves Liverpool in sixth before Sunday’s fixtures.
And former Reds striker Aldridge has expressed his alarm at Liverpool’s slump. Slot’s team have now lost five of their last six fixtures across all competitions.
“That’s so disappointing and concerning in many many way not just tonight but this season defensively shocking,” he said on X (Twitter).
“No cohesion desire taking responsibilities etc!! Arne has to step up big-time.”
Asked post-match by TNT Sports for his assessment, Slot said: “If Mo goes on a scoring run, it’s definitely going to be important for the team.
“But it’s about scoring goals and also about not conceding goals. For so many games now we’ve conceded one, two or three goals. Every time in the first five minutes also.
“It would help the team to have players who score the goals, but it would also help if we are able as a team to keep a clean sheet. It’s not only what the last line [of defence] does, we have to do it as a whole team. We have to do better.
“You prefer to have all your players available. That’s not the situation. It’s the players we do have available need to bring the results in. That’s something you can have in a season. You have to win duels. That’s not happening with us now. That is something I’m not liking.”