Four defeats on the bounce. For most clubs, that’s a blip. For Liverpool, it feels like the end of the world; and yet, perhaps it shouldn’t. This season was always going to be transitional, and the sooner we accept that, the easier it becomes to see the bigger picture.
Slot is only just building HIS team
Last summer, we had a new manager at the helm in Arne Slot, and the club only brought in Federico Chiesa. While his quality is undeniable, one signing was never going to transform a squad that had been together for years under Jurgen Klopp. Sure, they spent a fair amount on Giorgi Mamardashvili, too, but he was never going to arrive until this year. So, Slot was essentially working with Klopp’s Liverpool.
This season, though, has seen many new faces. There were the early signings of Jeremie Frimpong to help fill the void of the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Milos Kerkez to help push Andy Robertson at left back. Then the statement signing of Florian Wirtz, and big money moves for attackers Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak. Slot is finally building his team, but he’s not a magician. Even for those who have Premier League experience, it takes time for new players to settle, especially in a system as demanding as Liverpool’s.
But it’s not just about the incomings, it’s the outgoings too. Big names like Luis Diaz left Liverpool for a new challenge at Bayern Munich, while Nunez took flight to Saudi Arabia. Then key squad players such as Caoimhín Kelleher and Jarell Quansah left to find more game time, and who can blame them as they look to take the next step in their careers? Sure, we recouped some nice fees to cover much of this year’s transfer dealings; however, getting rid of more than we brought in means there will be gaps, which Academy players will be hoping they can fill.
And then there’s the tragic loss of Diogo Jota. He wasn’t just a key player in terms of Liverpool’s goals and pressing ability; he was a huge personality in the dressing room. Losing him has left a hole that can’t be filled overnight, and it’s no surprise that the Liverpool team looks a little flat without his spark. And that’s before we even contemplate what impact it has had on the team emotionally.
Why we shouldn’t be worried
Supporting Liverpool has always been a paradox. They can be the best team in the world to follow when the football flows and the trophies come, but they can also be the worst when it seems like we are doing things the hard way. Nights like Istanbul are definitely magical moments that will live on in the memory of fans for years, as will images of Allison’s equaliser against West Brom. However, so will the feelings of despair, sadness, and maybe even anger, before we turned things around in those games.
That emotional whiplash is part of what makes the club unique, but it also explains why fans are so quick to swing between euphoria and despair.
Football, after all, is a game of fine margins. A missed chance here, a defensive lapse there, and the outcome changes completely. Liverpool’s season so far has felt the same, moments of brilliance undone by lapses that shift the narrative in an instant. We’ve gone from being the team that doesn’t give up, scoring more last-minute goals than anyone else in the Premier League, to now losing our last two domestic games in the exact same circumstances we were bragging about mere weeks ago.
The reality, though, is that we’re only a few points worse off than we were at the same point last season, which we ended up winning by a margin of 10. We’re still sitting in the top four in the league, and while we may have lost to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United, we’ve beaten the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle. Add to that the fact that our new players have shown glimpses of their quality. Yes, not consistently enough. But with time, they will get to know each other better, and the chemistry will build. And slowly but surely, the Reds will start to step through the gears and find a return to form.
The truth is, this campaign was never going to be about perfection. It’s about laying foundations, bedding in new signings, and finding a way forward without one of the squad’s most beloved figures. Pain now, perhaps, but promise later.
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