Goldbridge: Liverpool out of the title race but “stupid” to say Slot should be sacked | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Title Hopes in Tatters After Brentford Defeat: Goldbridge Reacts

Mark Goldbridge has delivered a cutting and clinical review of Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford on That’s Football, questioning whether the Merseyside club are spiralling beyond repair under Arne Slot. Speaking after what he described as “another shocking performance,” Goldbridge didn’t hold back in his assessment of Liverpool’s title credentials and overall cohesion, offering a bleak outlook for the rest of their campaign.

Brentford Fully Deserved the Win

“Massive congratulations to Brentford,” said Goldbridge, praising their resilience despite being written off by many. “If you watch the game, they totally deserved it and Liverpool just didn’t do enough.” He described Mohamed Salah’s goal as “an absolutely worldy out of nothing” but noted that it came amid a backdrop of disjointed, aimless play. “There wasn’t the momentum there, there wasn’t the system there,” he observed.

Brentford, despite injuries to key players like Frank Onyeka, Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Nørgaard, have managed to stay competitive. Goldbridge applauded the team’s ability to “get very good results at home” and be “hard to beat,” contrasting their form starkly with Liverpool’s current struggles.

Liverpool Look Lost and Out of Sync

“This is what I said last week,” Goldbridge reminded viewers. “I don’t think Liverpool can win the league.” He dismissed any suggestion that his claim was premature, citing an eerie sense of déjà vu. “I’m getting the feeling they’re not winning the league this year. They just aren’t playing well. There’s something not right.”

The list of issues was exhaustive: “Multiple players have left, tragedy in the football club, new signings, injuries.” With references to the loss of players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Díaz, injuries to Alisson and lack of form from players like Mac Allister and Salah, the picture painted was grim. “They’ve got seven, eight, nine, ten problems,” he said flatly, comparing their slump to Manchester City’s rough patch last season when Rodri was injured.

Perhaps most damning was his comment on the club’s fragility. “They’ve conceded three goals to Brentford today, two goals to Manchester United last week,” he said. “That’s five goals against mid-table clubs.”

Slot Under Pressure but Deserves Patience

While some fans have started to question Arne Slot’s leadership, Goldbridge offered a tempered view. “There will be some crazy Liverpool fans out there shouting Slot out tonight,” he said. “Maybe they want a few retweets, maybe want a few views. That’s incredibly disrespectful and stupid.”

Photo: IMAGO

He reminded viewers that even managers like Klopp and Arteta didn’t deliver immediate success. “Did Klopp’s team work straight away? Did Arteta’s team work straight away?” he asked. Goldbridge sees this as a transition season for Liverpool, acknowledging that “maybe for Liverpool a cup and top four is what this year is going to be about.”

Rebuild Needs Time but Results Needed Now

Despite understanding the transitional challenges, Goldbridge was clear that Slot can’t afford to hide behind excuses. “Patience doesn’t exist… he needs to go after results. Simple as that.” His criticism extended to team selection. “I don’t know why he didn’t pick Andy Robertson,” he said, adding that Kostas Tsimikas “may well be a player for the future, but you can’t focus on the future when you need results today.”

In his final thoughts, Goldbridge made one thing very clear. “They don’t have cohesion. They’re not playing well. And that’s the first thing they’ve got to do — be hard to beat.”

As Liverpool prepare for clashes with Aston Villa and Manchester City, the scrutiny will only intensify. Brentford’s victory has not only shaken the league table but may have exposed deeper fault lines in Liverpool’s ambitions this season.