Lewis Steele: Liverpool could be forced to act over Slot | OneFootball

Liverpool Crisis Deepens as Slot Faces Defining Weeks

There are moments in a season that feel decisive, even final. What unfolded at the Etihad, as detailed by Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail, carried that weight. Liverpool’s 4-0 defeat was not simply heavy, it was hollowing.

“As Manchester City fans briefly averted their starry-eyed gazes from the pitch to perform their famous Poznan dance, the 7,600 Liverpool supporters up high in the away end decided to follow suit.” It was a striking image, one of disengagement rather than anger. Steele notes, “This was the travelling Kop voting with their feet,” and in many ways that feels more ominous than any chant.

Fans Losing Faith in Direction

Supporters do not demand perfection, but they do expect purpose. What troubles many is not the defeat itself, but the absence of progression. Steele captures that unease clearly, writing: “Liverpool are not learning and none of them, especially the head coach, seem to have the answers to fix it.”

This was meant to be a campaign of consolidation, even dominance. Instead, it has unravelled into something uncertain. A team that once set the standard now appears reactive, chasing games rather than controlling them.

Season Built on Promise Now Faltering

The context matters. Liverpool entered the season having invested heavily and from a position of strength. Steele dismisses any softening of expectations: “Forget any talk of a ‘transition’ year, that is a lame excuse only used in hindsight.”

That line cuts to the heart of the issue. This was supposed to be the beginning of something lasting. Instead, inconsistency has eroded belief. The looming trip to Paris Saint-Germain only heightens the sense of fragility, with Steele warning they “could breeze past this rabble.”

Key Players Falling Short

Responsibility does not sit solely with Arne Slot. Performances across the pitch have dipped. “This squad is brimming with talent but none have performed to the standards they set last year,” Steele writes.

Photo: IMAGO

Even Mohamed Salah, so often Liverpool’s compass, has faltered. “Mohamed Salah… seems devoid of confidence,” Steele observes, highlighting missed chances and a penalty saved by James Trafford.

Moments like “Hugo Ekitike giving Rayan Cherki his shirt before the game had even ended” have only fuelled frustration, symbolic of a side lacking edge.

Pressure Mounting on Slot

Managers are judged on solutions, not circumstances. Steele’s verdict is stark: “He is now sleepwalking dangerously at the cliff edge.”

There remains an acknowledgement of context, including the emotional toll of Diogo Jota’s passing, but football rarely pauses for reflection. Results dictate mood, and mood is turning.

Slot, as Steele notes, resembles “a politician who knows the voters are turning against him.” That metaphor feels apt. Authority, once assumed, must now be rebuilt.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

There is truth in the frustration, but also a danger in oversimplifying the situation. Liverpool’s issues run deeper than one manager or one bad week. The patterns have been visible for months, a side dominating possession without consistently creating high quality chances.

Slot’s approach has, at times, felt cautious where it needed to be bold. The balance between control and incision has tilted too far towards the former. Fans are not reacting to a single 4-0 defeat, they are reacting to a growing sense that performances lack clarity and identity.

At the same time, it is important to resist rewriting history. This is still a manager who delivered a league title. That cannot be dismissed, nor should it be used as a shield against criticism.

The bigger concern is trajectory. Liverpool do not look like a team building towards something. They look like one searching for answers mid-season. That uncertainty spreads quickly, from pitch to stands.

The PSG game now carries enormous weight. Not just for progression, but for perception. A strong performance could steady the mood. Another collapse could accelerate the noise around change.

For supporters, the question is simple. Not whether Slot has done well before, but whether he can fix what is unfolding now.