When does a blip become a crisis? When is it fair to aim serious criticism at a squad and manager that blew away everything in their path to become champions last season? When is it time for Liverpool fans to start panicking about this campaign?
Not just yet is the answer to all those questions – but the inquest has already begun at Anfield after Liverpool fell to a FOURTH defeat in a row and Manchester United moved just two points off the Reds, a sentence that seemed inconceivable a month ago.
Here are the big talking points from the Liverpool camp…
Arne Slot’s side slumped to their fourth successive defeat in all competitions on Sunday night
The Reds have surrendered a five-point advantage at the top to fall four points behind leaders Arsenal
Missing a spark of class
It is hardly rocket science to suggest something is missing for Arne Slot in terms of attacking play – but the kings of England are just not themselves and have not been all season aside from the odd flash in the pan.
That sentiment would have remained should they have turned this game around and gone on to win. Despite creating some nice chances, such as Cody Gakpo twice hitting the post and Alexander Isak being denied from a one-versus-one, it all felt a bit chaotic.
What is the plan? Where is the identity? What is Liverpool’s attacking style? Nevermind the shaky defence – we will dissect that shortly – this team is just not putting away the chances they did last year.
There was a moment early in the second half when Alexis Mac Allister seemingly had the freedom of United’s half, only to end up with his back to goal and with the away team positionally recovered. Not to mention the uncharacteristic misses from Mo Salah et al.
The Egyptian had a remarkable record last year but others were chipping in with goals, too. Now it feels like with Salah in a slump of form, his team-mates are not taking on the challenge in front of goal.
‘Organised chaos’ was a term to describe Jurgen Klopp’s sides but this rendition of Liverpool, Slot 2.0 you may say, is just cold and hard chaos. Yes, they will score goals because of the individual quality they possess… but it seems like attacks are more a free-for-all than by design.
Mohamed Salah’s drop off has been systematic of the issues the Reds have experienced in attack this term
Forget £125m tag, Ekitike must start over Isak
If they were not as toothless in front of goal here, Liverpool would have won – so it feels necessary to stick on the theme of attacking incompetency and one question lingered at full-time: why did Hugo Ekitike not start?
Yes, he is not as glamorous or well-known as the £125million British record signing Isak. And yes he may be not in Slot’s best books after a needless red card and suspension for taking his shirt off led to him missing the first game of this losing streak.
But he is the club’s top scorer this season and did more off the bench after his 62nd-minute substitution than any of Liverpool’s other forwards managed in the previous hour… not least Isak.
The Swede will come good soon – there is no doubt about that – but right now he looks way off the pace, shot of fitness and confidence. It was a great save from Senne Lammens to deny him from close range in the first half but he must score from that position.
With Brentford away up next – a match that Pep Guardiola once described as ‘like going to the dentist’ such is the energy-zapping examination that awaits – Ekitike must be back in the starting XI, whether it is alongside Isak or instead of him.
Hugo Ekitike (right) provided a spark that had been sorely missing with Alexander Isak (left) as the lone striker
…and why doesn’t Slot trust Chiesa?
‘Federico he’s here to win’ goes the chant from the terraces about Federico Chiesa. Here to win maybe but not here to play, seemingly.
The Italian is limited to just cameo appearances off the bench yet seems to always impact games when he does come on. His highlights reel this season includes a last-minute winner against Bournemouth, a last-minute equaliser at Crystal Palace and a fine assist here.
Two of those moments ended in disappointment with the opposition going down the other end to score again but, with a bit of luck on his side, they could have been game-defining goals that changed the whole narrative around Liverpool.
Yet Slot does not trust him, even if he would deny that point publicly. Chiesa is a fan favourite for his attitude and the fact he runs around like a dog let off his leash – a compliment even if it does not sound as much – but the boss barely plays him.
Given Liverpool’s attacking woes in recent weeks, maybe it is time for Chiesa to get a rare start.
Slot continues to not trust Federico Chiesa from the start despite him making an impact off the bench several times this term
Kerkez way off the pace
On a similar note to Chiesa, maybe it is time for Andy Robertson to get a run in the starting XI with new left back Milos Kerkez not replicating the levels he set during two fine campaigns at Bournemouth.
The Hungarian has had some bright moments in a Reds shirt but they have been few and far between and it feels like he was being targeted by Amad Diallo and goal-scorer Bryan Mbeumo in the first half.
Cherries fans got accustomed to seeing Kerkez bombing down the left flank last year but he is asked to stay back more at Liverpool and tuck in to help build-up play while his defensive work has been tested in most games.
He is certainly not the only problem with Slot’s rearguard at the moment – questions can be asked of all of his back line and even the world’s best Virgil van Dijk is not exempt from criticism – but Kerkez is one of a multitude of defensive woes for Liverpool.
New left back Milos Kerkez is not replicating the levels he set during two fine campaigns at Bournemouth
Kerkez’s raise the question over whether it’s time to give Andrew Robertson a run in the side
Fine margins sum up the season – is that a good sign?
On the opening night, Liverpool won in the 88th minute and then proceeded to make it four from four to start the season with late goals in minutes 90+10, 83 and 90+5 against Newcastle, Arsenal and Burnley respectively, before more narrow wins.
Fine margins settled those games and the tightness has remained in this bad run, too, with Crystal Palace beating them in the 97th minute, Chelsea 95th and Ruben Amorim’s United also taking three points in the dying embers.
With a bit of luck, they could have taken draws – or even gone on to win – any of those games and the same can be said for the Champions League defeat at Galatasaray.
On a similar note, however, they could have drawn or lost any of the opening run of seven wins.
Slot talked about ‘control’ and ‘patience’ in his early weeks at Liverpool and right now it feels like he has neither. It is perhaps the biggest problem of a mounting to-do list for the Reds head coach in the coming weeks.
