View 3 ImagesArne Slot is facing increasing pressure at Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA, Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has already defended Arne Slot as Liverpool continue to endure a horror run. What some had optimistically labelled a temporary dip in form has now spiralled into a full-blown crisis, following the Reds’ 3-0 drubbing at home by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The shocking defeat extends Liverpool’s dismal streak to six losses in their last seven matches across all competitions, having lost 3-0 to Manchester City before the international break in November. The reigning Premier League champions’ form took a nosedive after the 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace in late September.
With his team now languishing in the bottom half of the table, Slot’s ambitions of defending his Premier League title appear over, and the Dutchman is under pressure to turn things around.
However, comments from former manager Klopp at the start of the season, when Liverpool were beginning to show teething problems under Slot, albeit not to this extent, called for cool heads and patience.
The German implored fans to give his successor time as the team was undergoing a transition after a record-breaking summer of spending in the transfer window.
Looking back on the initial transition a year ago, Klopp recently said on The Diary of a CEO podcast: “We had a lot of contact after that. He’s a super good guy. He got the best out of this team, and they became champions in an incredible manner.
View 3 ImagesJurgen Klopp has called for patience(Image: YouTube/Diary of a CEO)
“It’s not about Arne showing the world what he can do – it’s about getting the best out of the team. That’s exactly what he did.”
“Change always has an impact. And change always needs time.
“If he keeps the exact same team as last season – Darwin Nunez still there, Luis Diaz still there, for example – they start playing and have problems, [people say] ‘We need change.’
“Now the new guys are there, and they are really good players. It’s just not working out at the minute.”
View 3 ImagesIt’s now six defeats in seven for the Premier League champions(Image: Getty)
Summarising his views in three words, Klopp continued: “Development needs time,” before adding: “Nobody can change that. People need time to adapt. It’s all good.”
Despite that assessment, there are things Slot simply must address immediately. Certain decisions, like persisting with record signing Alexander Isak up front in place of Hugo Ekitike, and the lack of midfield balance in the side, have frustrated fans.
Liverpool’s defensive woes have also been a recurring issue since the season’s start, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk notably well off their game. Injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong have resulted in Dominik Szoboszlai being played out of position at right back, while many cannot understand why the Dutchman has not relied on Joe Gomez there.
