Liverpool manager Arne Slot is confronting a severe crisis at Anfield, openly admitting he will 'consider everything' in a desperate attempt to halt the team's dramatic decline.
A Record of Alarming Decline
The situation has become critical for the Dutch head coach, with his team suffering a shocking nine defeats in their last twelve matches. This dismal run represents the club's poorest sequence of results since the 1953-54 season, heaping immense pressure on Slot as he navigates a squad crippled by injuries and a glaring lack of depth.
Despite the club investing a substantial £450 million during the summer transfer window, Slot's options for meaningful changes remain severely constrained. Half of this enormous outlay was spent on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, both of whom have struggled with fitness issues and adapting to their new environment.
Injury Crisis Exposes Squad Fragility
The full extent of Liverpool's personnel problems was laid bare during their midweek Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven. The bench told a troubling story: Slot could not name a full complement of substitutes, fielding two goalkeepers alongside teenagers Trey Nyoni (18) and Rio Ngumoha, who only turned 17 in August.
The defensive line has been particularly hard hit. Joe Gomez required a painkilling injection for a knee problem last week, limiting his availability. The situation is compounded by the absence of a recognised right-back and the inconsistent form of central defender Ibrahima Konate. A further devastating blow came when new centre-half Giovanni Leoni suffered a season-ending ACL injury on his debut back in September.
In midfield, Wataru Endo appears to have fallen out of favour, making just two Carabao Cup starts in six appearances and seemingly not trusted by Slot for more significant roles.
Slot Weighs His Limited Options
When questioned about the possibility of giving fringe players an opportunity, Slot stated: "I think you consider everything. Until now, I have decided differently."
He elaborated on the difficult balancing act he faces: "It’s always a balance between if you don’t change people think ‘Ah, you should change more’ but there was a period of this season where we lost and I made a few changes and people complained I made a few changes too much."
Regarding his team selection for the upcoming match against West Ham, Slot confirmed he is evaluating potential changes but remained coy on the details: "Of course, I consider (changes) but I cannot tell you what the end product of that consideration is for Sunday yet."
He also provided context for his decision not to start Joe Gomez against PSV Eindhoven, explaining that Konate had missed training sessions beforehand. "If you don’t have that many defenders to start with, two players who maybe might not be able to play the whole 90 is kind of a risk," Slot added, highlighting the precarious defensive situation.
With a crucial match against West Ham on the horizon, all eyes will be on Anfield to see if Arne Slot can find a solution to reverse one of the most concerning periods in Liverpool's recent history.
