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Liverpool’s Slide and the Pressure on Arne Slot

Liverpool’s season has unravelled with a speed that few at Anfield saw coming. After the euphoria of winning the Premier League title in his debut campaign, Arne Slot now finds himself trying to steady a side that has lost nine of its last 12 games across all competitions. The warning signs have been there for weeks, but the 4-1 defeat to PSV at Anfield felt like a moment that crystallised the scale of the crisis.

Lewis Steele, speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, did not hold back as he reflected on the midweek collapse. His words cut through the noise and summed up the mood across a disgruntled fanbase.

Alarming Signs at Anfield

The home defeat to PSV was not simply a bad night. It highlighted structural issues, mental fragility, and a lack of identity that would worry any manager. Steele captured the shock of it succinctly when he said, “It was embarrasing. I think it’s the biggest embarrasment of the lot and there has been quite a few recently.” That remark resonates because the performance contained none of the intensity or clarity that defined Slot’s early months.

What seemed most damning was the sense of drift. Steele added, “I was stood at half-time and I thought PSV were bang average, but Liverpool were just out-played in the second half and once they went 2-1 down, they showed no signs of coming back.” Liverpool have been famed for resilience for a decade, but this group looked directionless once behind.

Growing Questions for Arne Slot

Slot is under no illusions. After nine defeats in 12, Liverpool sit 12th in the Premier League and are already out of the Carabao Cup. Confidence has drained and patterns of play have become muddled. Steele reflected the general sentiment when he said, “I think the criticism for the manager has been absolutely right in the aftermath of that one.”

There is an undeniable shift in mentality from visiting sides too. Anfield’s aura has faded rapidly. Steele’s assessment laid it bare, noting, “Teams are now coming to Anfield, which is meant to be an absolute fortress, and teams like Nottingham Forest and PSV are thinking they can win there.” That is perhaps the most worrying detail, because it speaks to something deeper than tactical tweaks. It suggests a psychological vulnerability that opponents are exploiting.

Photo: IMAGO

Must Win Territory Approaches

Slot now faces a defining moment. Liverpool need both a result and a performance on Sunday and the expectation is clear. Steele captured the stakes bluntly, saying, “Slot needs to turn it around because if they don’t win with a good performance on Sunday, then I struggle to see how he can keep his job.”

This has the feel of a crossroads. Managers who win titles are usually granted time, but the pace and scale of Liverpool’s collapse has created an urgency that cannot be ignored. Slot may still command respect inside the dressing room, but the evidence on the pitch suggests a group losing faith in itself and its direction.

A turnaround is still possible and football history is littered with teams that rediscovered themselves at their lowest ebb. The challenge now is whether Slot can summon that revival before the decision is taken out of his hands. Anfield expects clarity, conviction, and a return to the standards that Liverpool supporters consider non negotiable.