THE message from Liverpool was a simple one: Don’t panic.
But defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray have exposed cracks hidden in the club’s six-win start to the season.
SunSport’s deputy chief sports correspondent Martin Lipton looks at what has gone wrong for the Reds…
CHANGE ISN’T EASY
LIVERPOOL romped to the title last term with what was effectively a tweaked version of Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Slot made a few alterations, the biggest being to have Ryan Gravenberch as the hub of a commanding midfield trio, flanked by Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
But this summer’s £450million outlay was about a significant remodelling.
New full-backs in Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, £100m on Florian Wirtz, a British record £135m on Alexander Isak and £69m for Hugo Ekitike.
A variation on the shape, too, with Wirtz earmarked to play further forward.
That sense of control has gone, leaving the defence stretched and exposed on the counter from the opening game of the season against Bournemouth.
Liverpool have looked unconvincing but that was masked by a flurry of late goals to beat the Cherries, Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley and Atletico Madrid.
But if you spend weeks walking a high wire, you’re eventually going to fall.
Skipper Virgil van Dijk conceded: “We’re taking risks to find the spare man but when we take wrong decisions, they break and become dangerous.”
DEFENSIVE DEFICIENCIES
JUST like Palace at Selhurst on Saturday, Galatasaray earmarked the space behind the Liverpool full-backs and exposed their limitations.
Kerkez was a flying defender at Bournemouth while Slot has seemed reluctant to play a natural right-back in Conor Bradley, instead opting for either Frimpong — a wing-back at Leverkusen — or Szoboszlai.
The Hungarian was all over the place in Istanbul, carelessly fouling Baris Alper Yilmaz for the decisive spot-kick.
Liverpool fans are unhappy about Kerkez, hooked at Burnley to avoid a red card, and are questioning whether he is an upgrade on Andy Robertson.
And in the middle, Ibrahima Konate’s refusal to sign a new deal is being viewed as a factor in his uncertain start, as the failure to land Marc Guehi on deadline day appears a big miss.
Slot will have to field keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili at Chelsea on Saturday after Alisson hobbled off in Turkey.
Even Van Dijk has not been immune to criticism and accepted: “We’ve been a bit sloppy.”
FOR BETTER, FOR WIRTZ
THE German was signed to alter the Liverpool attacking dynamic but is finding the transition from Bundesliga to Prem far steeper than expected.
Wirtz is struggling to find the space he was used to at Leverkusen and it’s clear his confidence has dropped.
Bringing him into the midfield mix has changed the side’s balance, exposing the other two in the engine room and encroaching on Mo Salah’s space out on the right.
Pressed on the German’s contribution, Slot attempted to shift the debate, replying: “The focus is always on the new signings, which is normal if you see the amount of money we’ve paid for certain players.
“But Florian was involved many times in the dangerous moments.”
NO GO, MO
PERSUADING Salah to sign a new deal last season rather than saying goodbye this summer was a major boost.
The Egyptian has been the Prem’s best player for at least five years and 2024-25 was his peak, with 29 goals and 18 assists.
This term, though, he has been far less influential despite vital moments against Bournemouth, Newcastle and Burnley.
That, and the looming visit to Stamford Bridge, might have contributed to Slot’s decision to leave him on the bench for the first hour in Istanbul.
But Frimpong was no real replacement on the right.
SWEDE DREAMS NOT EASY
ISAK missed virtually the entire pre-season as he went on strike to force through his move from Newcastle.
It ended with Liverpool signing a player who is nowhere near where he needs to be.
With Ekitike following Alisson on to the crocks list in Turkey, it probably means Isak will have to start at Chelsea — but Slot conceded he is in no condition for 90 minutes at full tilt.
Liverpool still believe that Isak is a guarantee of goals — but only when he gets to the right fitness levels.
Read the full article here