Liverpool manager Arne Slot has openly admitted feeling guilty about what he describes as the team's "ridiculous" performance slump ahead of their crucial Champions League encounter against PSV Eindhoven.
Anfield Crisis Deepens
The Reds suffered their eighth defeat in just 11 matches last Saturday when Nottingham Forest delivered a shocking 3-0 victory at Anfield in Premier League action. This devastating loss compounds Liverpool's ongoing struggles this season, despite high expectations following their Premier League title win last campaign and substantial summer investments in new players.
Instead of building on last season's success, Liverpool has repeatedly shown defensive vulnerabilities while their midfield and attacking play has fallen significantly below the standards they established during their championship-winning campaign. The team currently finds itself languishing in 12th position in the Premier League, marking the first time in over a decade they've occupied a spot in the bottom half of the table.
Slot's Emotional Admission
When asked to characterize Liverpool's current situation, Slot didn't mince words. "Ridiculous, almost," the Dutch manager told reporters. "Something I didn't expect to be in, not at any club I worked at let alone if you are manager of Liverpool. That is unbelievable."
Slot emphasized the unexpected nature of the crisis for everyone involved with the club. However, he maintained that if any organization could overcome such challenges, it would be Liverpool. "If you ever needed to face this maybe this is the best club to face it because the harder it gets the more we are together," he stated.
The manager took personal responsibility for the team's poor form, expressing his sense of guilt over the situation. "For sure I take the responsibility and feel guilty for it. We're busy working on it," Slot confessed.
Internal Discussions and Responsibility
Amid criticism about Liverpool's apparent lack of determination during critical moments, team captain Virgil van Dijk has urged squad members to take greater individual responsibility. However, Slot disagrees with assessments that his players are avoiding their duties.
The manager instead pointed to tactical approaches used by opponents as contributing to lapses in concentration during vital game moments. "No, no we haven't," Slot responded when questioned about claims that Liverpool has lost their competitive hunger. "But in moments of games we have lost too many duels."
Dutch forward Cody Gakpo revealed that the squad has been engaged in extensive discussions about resolving their performance issues. "After the game on Saturday it was a kind of embarrassment because we lost 3-0 at home in front of our own fans, which is not good," the former PSV star admitted.
Gakpo described the team's reaction to their recent poor form. "In the days after that, we were, I don't want to say angry, but we tried to speak together and be honest with each other what we have to do to perform better on the pitch. Everybody is aware we have to take responsibility on and off the pitch."
Champions League Provides Hope
Despite their domestic struggles, Liverpool currently holds the eighth position in the Champions League table, occupying the final automatic qualification spot for the last 16. A victory against Dutch opponents PSV at Anfield would strengthen their top-eight standing and deliver a much-needed morale boost following their sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches.
With Liverpool's Premier League position making European success increasingly important, the Champions League now represents their most viable path to silverware this season. However, Slot acknowledges that significant improvement is necessary for Liverpool to genuinely compete for Europe's most prestigious club trophy.
