The atmosphere inside Liverpool's dressing room is one of stunned disbelief as the club endures its worst run of form in over seven decades, placing immense pressure on manager Arne Slot.
Anfield in Crisis
The Reds are in the midst of a catastrophic collapse, a situation that has left players and fans alike reeling. This dire streak was compounded by a 4-1 Champions League defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven, a result that followed a third consecutive Premier League loss, this time a comfortable victory for Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
This run of results represents the club's most dismal spell in 72 years, with Slot overseeing a staggering nine losses in just 12 games. The dramatic downturn is all the more shocking as it comes just months after the team romped to the Premier League title. They now find themselves languishing in the bottom half of the table, a staggering 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Dressing Room Backlash and Support for Slot
In the aftermath of the defeat to Forest, voices were raised in the dressing room as frustration boiled over. According to reports, captain Virgil van Dijk and other senior figures are deeply irked by the current situation.
However, contrary to external speculation, the predominant feeling among the squad is not one of blame towards the manager. Instead, the consensus is that Arne Slot is being let down by his players. The squad is reportedly united in a feeling of confusion over how their performances have deteriorated so rapidly and severely.
This sentiment was echoed publicly by academy product Curtis Jones, who provided a brutally honest assessment after the PSV debacle. "It's unacceptable to be honest," Jones stated. "I don't even have the words, I'm past being angry and sad, I'm at the point now where I don't have the words. I'm a player and a fan, I'm seeing it like this, I haven't experienced a team play like this bad and results like this."
He added, "At the end of the day, we still have that badge on our chest... But as of now, we're in the s*** and it needs to change."
Slot's Stance Amid the Turmoil
While the manager acknowledged the team's severe drop in standards, he refused to point the finger at his squad. In his press conference, Slot was asked if he felt let down by his players.
He responded, "No, not at all. Although I do agree with you that our standards, and with our, I mean the team, [they] have not been of the standards we are used to and that we want."
Slot emphasised a team-first philosophy, reflecting on the previous successful season. "Last season when we did really well there was a lot of focus on certain individuals and I always said it should be about the team and the team makes the individuals look very good. If the opposite is happening, we should also look at the team and not the individuals. That's what it's about for me."
As the scrutiny intensifies, the key question remains whether the players can rally and translate their supportive words into a much-needed change in performance on the pitch, or if the club's hierarchy will be forced to take action.
