Liverpool manager Arne Slot has launched a scathing assessment of his team's catastrophic defensive form, branding it "ridiculous" and "unbelievable" as a severe injury crisis grips the club.
The Reds are in a dramatic tailspin, having suffered eight defeats in their last eleven outings across all competitions. This dismal run hit a new low on Saturday with a 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest, equalling the heaviest Premier League defeat Liverpool have ever endured at Anfield.
A Defensive Collapse Unseen in Decades
That result marked the second consecutive match Liverpool have lost by a three-goal margin, a grim statistic not seen at the club since April 1965. The team's vulnerability at the back has become a glaring issue, leaving Slot struggling for explanations ahead of their Champions League fixture against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.
"It is ridiculous, it is unbelievable," Slot stated. "I have said many times you will never find enough excuses for us to perform like this. It's unexpected for the club, for me, for everyone."
Despite the adversity, the Dutch manager insisted the challenging times are fostering unity. "But this is maybe the best club to face it," he added. "The harder it gets at this club, the more we are together."
Taking Responsibility and a Glaring Transfer Failure
Slot was unequivocal in accepting blame for Liverpool's dramatic downward spiral, which sees them languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. "I take the responsibility, I feel guilty for it," he confessed.
The defensive woes are stark when compared to last season. "We are conceding more goals than last season," Slot noted. "This time last season we conceded zero set-pieces; now it is nine. The number of goals is close to ridiculous for a club like us."
These problems are compounded by a critical failure in the summer transfer window. Despite a record £450 million spend, the club did not adequately reinforce its central defence. A deadline-day move for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi collapsed, leaving 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni as the only centre-back acquisition. In a cruel twist, Leoni suffered a season-ending knee injury on his debut.
Deepening Injury Crisis Compounds Problems
The situation has escalated into a full-blown crisis, particularly at right-back. With Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong still unavailable, midfielders Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai have been forced to deputise in defence.
To make matters worse, Joe Gomez—one of only three fit senior centre-backs—has also been managing a fitness issue. Slot revealed, "Normally I wouldn't go into detail, but last week he had an injection on his knee. That's not normal if you don't feel anything."
While Gomez is expected to be in the squad for the PSV match, Slot confirmed the defender has not been completely fit. The manager vowed to lead from the front, saying, "We are going to give extra effort. As a manager I try to lead by example and try even harder."
