Liverpool's Title Defence in Crisis as Souness Clashes with Keown
Liverpool's Premier League title defence has hit a dramatic slump, with the team languishing in 11th place and trailing leaders Arsenal by a daunting 11 points. Despite a promising start with five consecutive victories, the Reds have suffered six defeats in their last seven league matches, piling immense pressure on manager Arne Slot.
Forest Defeat Highlights Anfield Woes
The crisis deepened following the November international break with a shocking 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. Goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White compounded a miserable afternoon at Anfield, leaving Liverpool fans questioning whether a title challenge remains possible this season.
Statistics reveal a concerning pattern: Liverpool have failed to take the lead in any of their Premier League defeats this season. The combination of a misfiring attack and a vulnerable defence has created a perfect storm that Slot must navigate quickly.
Souness vs Keown: The Great Title Debate
The discussion around Liverpool's title prospects has sparked a fascinating debate between two football icons. Liverpool legend Graeme Souness remains surprisingly optimistic about his former club's chances.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Souness argued: "Anything can happen in our league. I have worked in big leagues abroad, and I tell you, our league is by far the most demanding league anywhere. Big clubs don't get a rest. So it's still very much on for three or four teams, and I have to include Liverpool, because I know the way the crowd react there. They won't give up on the team."
However, Arsenal icon Martin Keown strongly disagreed, pointing to the statistical reality: "In '81 you lost seven games, you won 26. You won five titles by the way, and you were winning them back-to-back, it was a different Liverpool perhaps then. You've already lost six games this year."
When Souness countered that "madness in football" could still see Liverpool triumph, Keown delivered the sobering assessment that the Reds would need to "win virtually every game this season" to have any chance.
Slot Takes Responsibility Amid Favourable Fixtures
Manager Arne Slot has shouldered the blame for Liverpool's dramatic downturn in form. After the Forest defeat, he told reporters: "It is my responsibility. If we win or lose, it is my responsibility."
Despite the bleak situation, Slot identified reasons for optimism: "Our fans stay until the end, support the team until the end and the players keep on trying until the end... that will never continue throughout the whole season. We need to have that moment of energy of scoring a goal."
The coming weeks present a potential lifeline for Slot and his struggling side. A favourable run of fixtures against West Ham, Sunderland, and Leeds United offers the opportunity to rebuild confidence and momentum. However, continued poor results would only increase the scrutiny on the Dutch manager's position.
As the Premier League enters its busiest period, Liverpool face a critical test of character. The question remains whether this is merely a temporary blip or the unravelling of their title defence.
