Liverpool still must replace Arne Slot this summer – Opinion | OneFootball

A Win That Should Change Very Little

Victory in a Merseyside Derby will always carry weight. It lifts mood, it buys time, and it offers a momentary shield from criticism. But context matters, and this was a win that revealed just as many problems as it masked.

Liverpool did not control the game in any meaningful way. There were no consistent patterns of play, no clear attacking identity, and no sense of a team operating within a well-drilled system. Instead, it was another performance built on moments—individual quality rather than collective cohesion.

That has become the defining trait of this side under Arne Slot.

Even in victory, the issues remain glaring. The midfield lacks balance and robustness, unable to both protect the defence and support the attack with any real authority. Too often, it becomes stretched, passive, or bypassed. This leaves the forward line isolated and forces defenders into uncomfortable situations.

More concerning is the use—or misuse—of key attacking players.

Alexander Isak looks like a forward searching for structure that simply does not exist. His movement is intelligent, but the service is inconsistent and poorly timed. Florian Wirtz, one of the most gifted creators in Europe, continues to drift through games without influence, not because of a lack of quality, but because the system does not maximise his strengths.

These are not minor issues.

They are systemic failures, and they point directly to the coaching.

A single win, even in a high-pressure derby, cannot erase a season of inconsistency, confusion, and underperformance. If anything, it reinforces the idea that Liverpool is succeeding despite their structure, not because of it.

Relief, Not Success — and a Necessary Reset

If Liverpool do secure a top-five finish, it should be viewed for what it is—relief, not success.

Given the talent within this squad, Champions League qualification should have been a baseline expectation, not a hard-fought outcome. The fact that it has become a battle speaks volumes about how the season has unfolded.

This is why the conversation around the manager cannot be avoided.

Arne Slot inherited a squad built on strong foundations, shaped by years of elite coaching and a clear identity. Rather than building upon that, the team now looks fragmented and uncertain. The intensity that once defined Liverpool has faded, replaced by inconsistency and reactive football.

There is little evidence to suggest that this trajectory will change without intervention.

Next season should not be about stabilising again. It should be about attacking the Premier League title, re-establishing dominance, and maximising a squad that still contains elite-level talent in key areas.

That requires a different profile of a coach.

Someone capable of implementing clear patterns of play. Someone who understands how to structure a midfield that can both control and compete. Someone who can unlock players like Isak and Wirtz, rather than leaving them disconnected from the game.

Most importantly, someone who can restore belief—not just in results, but in the way Liverpool play.

This season has drifted into something underwhelming, and while results like the derby win provide brief respite, they do not alter the bigger picture.

A reset is needed.

Not out of impatience, but out of ambition.

Because if Liverpool is serious about returning to the top, they cannot afford to mistake survival for progress—or relief for success.