Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged that rival teams have honed in on a winning approach against his Premier League title-holding squad, necessitating a swift resolution following a 3-2 loss to Brentford, marking their fourth consecutive league defeat. Despite a promising start to their title defense, setbacks against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Brentford, along with a recent home loss to Manchester United, have derailed Slot’s team.
Slot described the defeat to Brentford as possibly the lowest point in their recent struggles, emphasizing that the opponents effectively exploited Liverpool’s vulnerabilities. He expressed frustration over the recurring pattern of teams adopting specific tactics against them without Liverpool finding an effective counter-strategy.
The team’s trend of conceding early goals continued, with Brentford scoring within five minutes, much to Slot’s dismay, as Liverpool had prepared for Brentford’s long throw-ins but failed to cope with the delivery. Despite the setback, Slot highlighted Liverpool’s ability to score two goals and create chances from open play even on an off day.
A significant source of disappointment for Slot was the team’s inability to win crucial duels and second balls, ultimately leading to their downfall against Brentford. Despite significant investments in new players during the summer transfer window, including Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, Liverpool has struggled to replicate the form that secured their 20th league title in Slot’s debut season.
The current season has been challenging for Liverpool, with four defeats in their first nine matches, matching their total losses from the previous season. Slot acknowledged the difficulties posed by transitioning the team after significant summer changes but expressed surprise at the string of four consecutive defeats, exacerbated by a challenging schedule of away games.
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, now impressing for Brentford, expressed confidence in his former team’s ability to bounce back from their slump, citing the quality of players and the team’s potential to regain form in due time.