Liverpool Football Club is navigating turbulent waters once again, with new manager Arne Slot presiding over a deeply concerning run of form that evokes memories of past struggles under Jurgen Klopp.
A Familiar Pattern of Struggle
The current situation at Anfield is stark. Under Arne Slot, the team is on a run of nine losses in their last twelve games, a statistic that has sent alarm bells ringing throughout the fanbase. This current crisis, however, finds a poignant echo in the difficult periods experienced during the tenure of the beloved Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp's Frank Admissions of Failure
Klopp was never one to shy away from responsibility when his team faltered. In April 2024, after a crucial Merseyside derby loss to Everton that severely damaged Liverpool's title ambitions, he pinpointed a critical issue. "It is a problem," Klopp stated, acknowledging his team's wastefulness in front of goal. "We create but we don't score often enough and that doesn't help. You can see that and that's a problem."
His willingness to shoulder the blame was even more pronounced after a brutal 3-0 defeat by relegation-threatened Wolves in February 2023. With the team languishing in mid-table, Klopp's words were a desperate acknowledgement of comprehensive failure. "I am 100 per cent responsible," he declared. "...If we lose I feel 100 per cent responsible."
The Need for Reinvention and Squad Reflection
Perhaps the most telling sign of a deep-rooted issue came after a disastrous start to the 2022-2023 season. Following a 2-1 loss to Manchester United where Liverpool's midfield was consistently overrun, Klopp publicly admitted a major error in judgement. "I know we have had this discussion since it all started and I am the one who said we don't need a midfielder and you were all right and I was wrong," he conceded.
This sentiment was foreshadowed by his comments after a humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat by Napoli at the start of that same season. Klopp's assessment was chillingly frank, signalling a team that was fundamentally broken. "We have to reinvent ourselves," he admitted. "...The basic stuff is not there anymore." This phrase went beyond a simple tactical tweak, suggesting a state of crisis that demanded a complete structural reset.
Klopp also faced extreme challenges during the 2020-2021 season, where the club's title defence collapsed under an unprecedented injury crisis, particularly in defence. In that difficult period, he praised the young players who stepped up, stating the team "would have been lost" without them.
The parallels between then and now are undeniable. As Arne Slot seeks to steady the ship, the candid words of his predecessor illustrate that navigating a crisis is, tragically, a well-trodden path at Liverpool.
