Patience Required for Liverpool and Arne Slot
Liverpool Football Club finds itself in a period of significant turmoil, but the notion of dismissing manager Arne Slot is being labelled as utterly absurd. While eager Manchester United supporters, enjoying a rare position above their rivals, question why more isn't being made of Slot's difficulties, the answer is straightforward: he won a Premier League title just last season.
This is a stark contrast to United, who haven't come close to lifting the trophy since 2013. The constant cycle of hiring and firing managers at Old Trafford post-Sir Alex Ferguson serves as a cautionary tale. The reality at Anfield is that the club appointed a title-winning manager to replace the legendary Jurgen Klopp, and he arguably delivered that success a season or two ahead of schedule. Now, Slot is grappling with a severe hangover from that triumph.
The Case for Sticking with Slot
So, what is the path forward for Liverpool? In short, the club must wait. Failing to retain the title this season is not a disaster. In truly competitive leagues, this is normal. A top-four finish and the crucial financial reward of Champions League qualification would be a more than acceptable outcome.
Big clubs are permitted to have off seasons. Manchester City endured one last year, and Klopp's Liverpool had one the season after their 2020 title win. He was not sacked then, and Slot shouldn't be now. The knee-jerk reactions, like those discussed by Gary Neville regarding system and personnel changes, are not the sensible approach. The intelligent course is to allow a proven manager time to rediscover the form of his talented squad.
The real conversation about Slot's future should only begin if Liverpool are outside the top four at the season's end. In the meantime, questions should be directed at the club's failure to sign a specialist holding midfielder in the summer, a problem they clearly recognised in previous transfer windows with attempts to sign Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Martin Zubimendi. While Ryan Gravenberch filled the role admirably last season, the current defensive struggles highlight this as a glaring issue.
Around the Premier League: Guardiola's Outburst and Rooney's Struggles
The weekend's drama extended far beyond Merseyside. Arsenal set a powerful tone for the North London derby with a massive tifo featuring former defender Sol Campbell, though it wasn't enough to prevent a 4-1 loss to Tottenham.
Meanwhile, Manchester City's defeat at Newcastle was their fourth of the campaign, and Pep Guardiola's frustrations boiled over. His behaviour, which included pulling away a TV cameraman's headset to scream into his ear, was unacceptable and speaks to a sense of entitlement. The FA should charge him for this conduct.
On the punditry side, Wayne Rooney provided accurate analysis on a missed penalty for City, but continues to look nervous on Match of the Day. Despite extra training from the BBC, he currently wouldn't rank in a top five of the show's pundits, a list that would include Joe Hart, Ashley Williams, Danny Murphy, Rob Green, and Alan Shearer.
Newcastle's English Heartbeat and Other Talking Points
Newcastle's victory showcased the resilience instilled by Eddie Howe. The club has a strong English core, with several players making a case for World Cup selection. Alongside known favourites like Anthony Gordon and Dan Burn, full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall and attacker Harvey Barnes were excellent against City and deserve consideration from England manager Thomas Tuchel.
Elsewhere, Brighton's Danny Welbeck continues his fine form, scoring his seventh goal in eight games, raising questions about a potential England recall. There were also controversies, with calls for a rule change to stop pushing and shoving at corners, and debate over a potential handball penalty for Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah against Burnley. Finally, West Ham's direct approach, exemplified in their draw with Bournemouth, signals a shift in their tactical identity under Nuno Espirito Santo.
