Arne Slot is to blame the most for Liverpool's defeat again

Arne Slot criticized all Galatasaray players for only being good at diving. He condemned the opponent’s ugly style of play. None of Slot’s remarks about Galatasaray were wrong. The issue is that if we partially hold Galatasaray responsible for Liverpool’s loss, then Slot deserves to be "punished".

Slot reshuffles the lineup

Looking at Liverpool’s starting lineup, fans were definitely shocked. More precisely, deeply shocked. Facing Galatasaray, although not big-name stars, they are a Turkish powerhouse with three consecutive national championships and have Victor Osimhen in their squad who can explode at any moment and certainly cannot be underestimated, especially with home advantage. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s preparation was very poor. Last weekend, they lost to Crystal Palace. Perhaps due to overconfidence leading to carelessness, Slot left Alexis Mac Allister, Alexander Isak, and Mohamed Salah on the bench. This decision proved Slot seriously underestimated Galatasaray.

The Dutch coach’s poor decisions caused Liverpool many difficulties against Galatasaray, from benching Salah to playing Dominik Szoboszlai as right-back, who caused the penalty. Two consecutive losses, plus injuries to new striker Hugo Ekitike and first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Liverpool is gradually heading toward a crisis. This is certain considering the contributions Ekitike and Alisson have made so far. No one knows how long Alisson will be out, but for Ekitike, Slot only hopes for a quick return because the French star’s impact has been very clear.

Slot has a star-studded bench. But the fact that Isak did not start might be understandable, the decision to play Szoboszlai as right-back and replace Salah with Frimpong was very poor. The Hungarian player was repeatedly beaten by Baris Yilmaz and caused the decisive penalty that Osimhen converted into the only goal of the match. His overall performance was below average, though some sympathy can be given since Szoboszlai is not a defender.

Jeremie Frimpong, although having played as a right midfielder for the Dutch national team, delivered a disappointing performance. According to SofaScore, the 24-year-old completed only 19 passes, won 3 out of 9 duels, and lost possession 16 times. He failed to make any significant impact on the game and couldn’t even utilize his natural speed. This performance further confirms that Jeremie Frimpong is not suitable for the right-wing midfielder role in an important match like the Champions League.

The right wing, once considered a strong point in Liverpool’s playing style, was almost "paralyzed" in Istanbul. Without a main attacking route, it’s no surprise Liverpool’s play became inflexible and easy to read. When Slot noticed and made adjustments, things changed but it didn’t help Liverpool much.

Should Slot be worried?

The first answer is yes. No club loses two consecutive matches in all competitions and claims to be fine. If they do, it is just self-comfort and denial of the criticism they face. Liverpool is definitely entering a mini crisis, which could escalate if Slot doesn’t stop this risky experimentation immediately.

On the other hand, the answer is no. There is nothing alarming here as Liverpool still leads the Premier League and has a record of one win and one loss in the Champions League. With many teams competing for knockout spots, Liverpool’s chances to advance remain bright. But that is the future. What if Liverpool’s results don’t improve in a month? Objectively, Slot still has a lot to do in a season where his team has often lost control or been defeated by tough opponents. Ahead lies a big challenge named Chelsea.

Worries are present as Liverpool faces the risk of losing three consecutive matches for the first time under Slot. The away trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend is very risky and full of traps, especially with the recent injuries of Alisson and Ekitike. Meanwhile, the team’s morale and spirit will be affected after the two recent defeats.

The defeat in Istanbul serves as a warning to Slot. They no longer have the ultra-consistent form with seven consecutive wins like last season. Heavy investment by Liverpool is necessary but it could become a "double-edged sword" if misused or if the new signings don’t meet expectations or fit the tactics. The two names we are talking about are Wirtz and Isak.

Slot must quickly integrate them into Liverpool’s style rather than having them play "while observing." It’s already October and the tough period is approaching. Traditionally, teams that survive the end of the year phase have a great chance to win the Premier League. Slot can rotate players and tactics as he wishes, but he should remember what brought him success in his first season at Liverpool: resilience, stability, and efficiency. Hopefully, fans will see a different Liverpool this weekend. Otherwise, if they lose again... that will be Slot’s problem.

Related articles

Carragher criticizes Liverpool as a mess, slams 'disastrous' marquee signing Jamie Carragher didn’t hesitate to point out Liverpool’s weaknesses, stating Florian Wirtz has not adapted yet and calling his former team See more