Arne Slot continues to plumb the depths in a season of all-time lows | OneFootball

This is a season that continues to plumb the depths.

Liverpool have now slumped back to fifth place in the Premier League - in striking range of Bournemouth and Brighton for a place in the Champions League next season.

They are without an away win against the top nine teams in the top flight. They haven’t won ANY of their last three matches - against Manchester United, Chelsea and now Aston Villa.

Those teams - right now - are supposed to be the new benchmark - scrapping it out for Champions League football with the Reds. It’s a downgrade from fighting with Manchester City and Arsenal for the title, sure.

But we are constantly being reminded there are mitigating circumstances.

It’ll take new players time to bed in, a lot of turnover helps nobody, injuries, individuals losing form. But come on. When are we allowed to mention that the emperor has got no clothes on?

This is not the kind of team that can be rectified with a signing here and there - as if a couple of new wingers will sort all this out.

Arne Slot's got to go

The issues are far deeper. Yes there have been problems with recruitment. Too many players brought in are the wrong profile and others aren’t up to the task of replacing those who have gone out the door.

And there have been injuries suffered at a scale too big to handle. Liverpool have had to deal without Alisson Becker and Conor Bradley for extended spells. Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are currently out.

But they’ve got a £25m goalkeeper in the net and are paying emergency No9 Cody Gakpo £250k per week. It’s not like they are being forced to play the kids. Not that Arne Slot would do that anyway.

And that brings us to what is the heart of the problem - to everyone other than the decision-makers at Anfield.

This is Arne Slot’s team and it’s not good enough. His football is slow and ponderous. The team continues to ship goals from set-pieces - 20 in all in the top flight this season. And they are finding it so hard to create anything in open play.

Liverpool’s confidence should be at an all-time high following the Premier League title win but collectively they look shot to bits.

The answer is staring Richard Hughes in the face

There will be no shortage of records broken this season - for all the wrong reasons.

After wins against Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace even the most pessimistic of fans must have been forgiven for thinking the Champions League at least was wrapped up.

Get to the finish line, regroup and go again next term with a fully-fit squad with plenty to prove.

But there cannot be many fans out there - even the ones of the hardcore variety - who are looking forward to seeing what Slot serves up next term.

We are led to believe the die is cast, that Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards won’t make a call on Slot’s future this summer. He is fully involved in planning the squad for next season, telling the media he’s got no reason to believe he will lose his job.

But just what will be the crushing blow? Will he be allowed to rack up the losses indefinitely and if so what purpose would that solve?

Let’s assume that the season gets off to a poor start and Liverpool need to replace Slot early in the piece - like what happened to Brendan Rodgers back in 2015.

It would be bold to assume there’s another Jurgen Klopp out there. We are about to see Xabi Alonso join Chelsea.

But Liverpool are in real danger of cutting their nose off to spite their face by holding on to Slot. It’s a shame that everyone can see it - other than the ones who really matter.