Job security - arne

[King Binny]

As many have noted, the recent run of results has just scratched the surface of deeper issues.

• 4 Premier League defeats for the first time since February 2021
• 4 consecutive PL matches with 2+ goals conceded for the first time since April 2024
• 9 consecutive matches without a clean sheet for the first time since April 2024

12 wins 2 draw 11 losses


View: https://x.com/AnfieldEdition/status/1982408334306320557

 

[Number21]

By far the biggest problem we have is our defending. We're conceding far too many goals.

Slot needs to start by getting a grip on that & go from there. If he doesn't sort it out then he'll soon be gone.

Regardless of how shit we are we're always good for a goal or 2.

 

[Glen C]

As many have noted, the recent run of results has just scratched the surface of deeper issues.

• 4 Premier League defeats for the first time since February 2021
• 4 consecutive PL matches with 2+ goals conceded for the first time since April 2024
• 9 consecutive matches without a clean sheet for the first time since April 2024

12 wins 2 draw 11 losses


View: https://x.com/AnfieldEdition/status/1982408334306320557
View attachment 4229

The league table is slightly skewed as the team were on the beach for the last four games of the season.

 

[MomoWASright]

They look like they’re still on it. None of them are going on the pitch like they have any fight in them.

 

[peekay]

I said a while back it seems to me that no manager is more than about 5 games from the sack.

It really is pretty hilarious how quickly people can turn on a guy.

Some of us have been voicing uneasiness with your style of football since around PSG, haven't we? I remember Farky had a post voicing displeasure at the way we approached our football. I posted a "Is this sustainable?" around April. Several others wondered openly what was going on. Of course, all those were swept aside, and to a certain degree, rightfully so, because we were winning the PL.

So it is not that we turned on him in five days. I believe fans have a little more patience when they can see the footballing style and what the manager is trying to achieve, even when the results are not there. But if the footballing style is a bit confusing, no sign of innovative tactics, the only thing keeping a manager's job alive is the results, and when that goes, the support goes.

 

[peterhague]

Some of us have been voicing uneasiness with your style of football since around PSG, haven't we? I remember Farky had a post voicing displeasure at the way we approached our football. I posted a "Is this sustainable?" around April. Several others wondered openly what was going on. Of course, all those were swept aside, and to a certain degree, rightfully so, because we were winning the PL.

So it is not that we turned on him in five days. I believe fans have a little more patience when they can see the footballing style and what the manager is trying to achieve, even when the results are not there. But if the footballing style is a bit confusing, no sign of innovative tactics, the only thing keeping a manager's job alive is the results, and when that goes, the support goes.

"All he does is win titles"

 

[juniormember]

They look like they’re still on it. None of them are going on the pitch like they have any fight in them.

I think that's unfair to Szoboszlai. But most of the rest, yeah. We need that fight/fire back.

 

[juniormember]

That's... Entirely possible.

However, aside from life, we haven't played good football in a while! I got used to seeing it. I don't think I'm entitled to it or anything, but we should be able to put something better than this together.

We've gone from being good for enough time and riding a bit of luck sitting back, to being good in a couple parts of s game and having enough luck, go being good in spurts and having some good individual players, to being a little naive, then desperately attack minded at the end of games and having good individual players, to being calamitous defensively and useless unless hopelessly open.

That's the trajectory of our rebuild. I want to see it turn around under slot, but he is close to being fatally wounded already by this.

Had we had a bit of time with all the new players (injuries have been a massive issue I think) gelling in, with all of them comfortable with system changes, we might look a little different at this point. But we've not been too lucky in that regard.
I'm going to reserve judgment on the title winning Slot until he's had a fair crack with the entire squad. If we're still shite by then, we should be speaking to alternatives. But not until then. He won us the league in his first season, and that surely has to count for something when it comes to loyalty.

 

[peterhague]

By far the biggest problem we have is our defending. We're conceding far too many goals.

Slot needs to start by getting a grip on that & go from there. If he doesn't it out then he'll soon be gone.

Regardless of how shit we are we're always good for a goal or 2.

We just need to not go behind after about 5 minutes. Literally get to 10 minutes not losing and build from there. The Utd game was ridiculous: lose one challenge in midfield, on the backfoot, concede. After about 30 seconds. I just switched the game straight off. Not cos I thought we'd necessarily lose but it's just too annoying listening to all the histrionics. Football's not so different from any human endeavour - you need a bit of luck here and there, and confidence and momentum matter.

 

[Dreambeliever]

The only reason we liked him was his competence. Remove that and he's nothing. It's not like Klopp. He's dead sound so any periods in the shit felt like time to hunker down and support him. With this dude it's the opposite. Soz but that's just the way it is.

I feared that before he joined but every interview I’ve seen I’ve been impressed and felt he got the club even it not in the way Klopp did. Very much a Bob to Bill if you will.

Just feels cheap like something Chelsea fans would I and we would laugh at them for.

If he fails fine, but the way our fans on here makes me sick. Not that I care that much. I’ll always be grateful for no20 under Slots watch and rate him higher than most it seems.

Hope we don’t get Brendan back!

 

[Dreambeliever]

I would be inclined to agree apart from the reason he was brought in was because he wasn’t changing much. It’s been a cluster fuck all over because we aren’t keeping with what worked and nobody knows what we are trying to do.

I do hope he reverts back to last seasons tactics. If he does we’ll win the league still.

 

[Dreambeliever]

I think the team needs to transition. Even without Trent leaving it needed to, but even more so given that he did. So I think trying to rebuild the attack around a more traditional creator like Wirtz was a totally reasonable approach. But it doesn't look to me like Salah can be part of that approach. It's not looking good for Wirtz at all either, but given the potential loss we're staring at then we have to give it every chance of succeeding.

I don’t disagree but I think Wirtz wasn’t the answer and replacing Salah contribution is proving a lot difficult than people thought (except me of course and why I think we should stick with Salah and the tactics that work for him until he can’t produce anymore)
I find it hard to believe that right now this team with last years tactics wouldn’t have us winning again.

Mara
Bradley
Konate
VVD
Robbo
Gravy
Dom
Mac
Gakpo
Hugo
Salah

Wirtz, Kerkez, Isak, Frimpong, Chiesa, Endo, Jones, Gomez can play their way into the team coming on off the bench.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Even when we won those 5 games a lot people were saying we were lucky(which we were) and not playing well and that we can't keep getting away with it. Fact is we've been crap since we won the league. It was ignored because we won the league so the players switched off. But that has carried into preseason and into this season as well. His new system doesn't work as it leaves us so exposed its a joke. Plus outside of results he's not a likeable guy and i don't personally like his blunt style of calling out players to the press. So when you're not likeable and not getting results people's tolerance won't be that long. What makes it worse is that he just doesn't look like he knows what he's doing.

I guess I hadn’t seen as much dislike for him as a person til now. Old Roy was getting called out from his first presser. Calling out players aside and stubbornness with favourites (every manager has them) most people complimented him on his interviews and answers. Obv it’s easier when you are winning but fuck me the hate is strong. Feels like I’m on an Everton or Utd forum listening to shite being spoken about our manager after what he’s achieved. Zero respect.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Last year, you went on and on about how great he was at skinning people etc ... It was shocking, as it was so blatantly obvious how he was no longer able to do this (sure it happened, but so little compared to what he used to do), how little respect he was given by defenders (rarely doubled) and how often his "run into a defender" dribbling style stopped better attacks.

It's more extreme now with Salah - father time is father time, and it's undefeated as they say.

And you want us to go back to the system last year? or a system where he has no defensive responsibilities, when we can't defend properly as is?

Salah has to be part of a team, but Farky's comment re: Ronaldo/Manure was spot on ... "they got the best out of him" but it fucked the team even more ... Should we do the same with Liverpool then?

I think it's mental.

He had fucking Trent behind him last year. A traffic cone would be a defensive upgrade. He made the biggest contribution last year to us winning the league and I’ve zero doubt if we revert back he’ll have the biggest impact again even if his numbers are reduced. We can slowly start to transition away but now is that the time. Imo.

 

[Dreambeliever]

The thing with Salah is there never seemed to be any dissent allowed. Obviously the numbers last season were brilliant, some of the goals outstanding and a lot of the assists really excellent too. But then loads of people would go from reasonable appreciation of that to claiming he was the best player in the world and how it's a disgrace he doesn't win the Golden Balloon etc. And I always just felt... really? This same dude I see barely touching the ball most weeks, running straight into defenders, misplacing simple passes etc. That guy?

Like, I'm pretty sure I've seen world class attackers before. Suarez, Gerrard, Torres. They don't look like that.

After a while the gaslighting just gets really annoying.

None of those players have ever put up the numbers Salah has over such a long period of time. Thats what makes him world class. Not his general play which has always been poor.

 

[peterhague]

I don’t disagree but I think Wirtz wasn’t the answer and replacing Salah contribution is proving a lot difficult than people thought (except me of course and why I think we should stick with Salah and the tactics that work for him until he can’t produce anymore)
I find it hard to believe that right now this team with last years tactics wouldn’t have us winning again.

Mara
Bradley
Konate
VVD
Robbo
Gravy
Dom
Mac
Gakpo
Hugo
Salah

Wirtz, Kerkez, Isak, Frimpong, Chiesa, Endo, Jones, Gomez can play their way into the team coming on off the bench.

Guess it depends a bit on your approach to long-term vs short-term. I'm always in favour of the longer-term approach personally. Plus, I don't actually agree that that team would win us another title. Arsenal are so much stronger this year. We've lost our main creator. We've lost another major dynamo in Diaz. Salah might not have declined as much as he looks like if he were still being accommodated by lots of runners, but for me it's still a stretch to say he'd be scoring at that record rate we needed to justify building the entire attack around him.

I just basically don't agree that a transition is sacrificing that much. If it gets to the point where CL qualification looks difficult then that's a harder question.

 

[peterhague]

None of those players have ever put up the numbers Salah has over such a long period of time. Thats what makes him world class. Not his general play which has always been poor.

Yeah I know. Just saying his faults are genuine and it's totally valid to be frustrated by them.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

He had fucking Trent behind him last year. A traffic cone would be a defensive upgrade. He made the biggest contribution last year to us winning the league and I’ve zero doubt if we revert back he’ll have the biggest impact again even if his numbers are reduced. We can slowly start to transition away but now is that the time. Imo.

Listen, I hope you're right ... as you were last year.
But it's quite clear you're unable to look at the player outside of a certain prism.
It's like saying Robbie was the 'same' Robbie when he came back under Rafa - same finisher, but slower than you and I!
He's no longer able to beat players - his best assets are a) finishing b) dangerous passes.
As a LWF - he doesn't get enough chances anymore because he can rarely create them himself with his pace (i.e. making a run, or beating players) ... that means he has to play central (i.e. we cannot play the way we did last year). Playing him central means a shift from a 4-3-3 to a 4-3-1-2 as we're not going to keep Isak and Ekitike on the bench the whole year etc.
It's a clusterfuck and yes, I'm down on Arne but it's not because the sky is falling, it's just what I'm seeing and I'm yet to see *anything* that leads me to believe he can undo what is happening. I hope he can, I really do as I actually like him but I just don't see it.
That's not being fickle, that's being an honest fan who's not blinded by "the red spectacles" ... Granted sports is "what have you done for me lately," but my only concern is can he fix it ...

 

[Farkmaster]

I don’t disagree but I think Wirtz wasn’t the answer and replacing Salah contribution is proving a lot difficult than people thought (except me of course and why I think we should stick with Salah and the tactics that work for him until he can’t produce anymore)
I find it hard to believe that right now this team with last years tactics wouldn’t have us winning again.

Mara
Bradley
Konate
VVD
Robbo
Gravy
Dom
Mac
Gakpo
Hugo
Salah

Wirtz, Kerkez, Isak, Frimpong, Chiesa, Endo, Jones, Gomez can play their way into the team coming on off the bench.

Replacing Salahs contribution would be easier if he wasn't here.

 

[Farkmaster]

I do hope he reverts back to last seasons tactics. If he does we’ll win the league still.

This is what you aren't getting.

1) we can't revert back. We don't have the same players.
2) for a big chunk of last season the tactics weren't good enough either, this isn't just this season

 

[Hyena]

I'll always love Salah but surely the biggest reward of being a legend is being able to sit on the bench 80% of the time when you're 35, collect a paycheque, and enjoy the trophies that Szoboszlai and Ekitike are winning for you?

 

[bluebell]

From where I’m standing, a number of clear structural and tactical problems are emerging:

1. High defensive line + poor midfield retention = disaster
   Liverpool continue to press and push their centre-backs high up the field, yet the passing through the middle of the park is sub-par. The midfield can’t hold onto the ball or link out of pressure, which means the team is repeatedly exposed to quick counters. Liverpool have allowed more shots from counter-attacks this season than any other Premier League side.
   
   The chain reaction is predictable: midfield loses possession → high line left exposed → defence scrambling to recover. That’s exactly what’s happening.
2. Defending set pieces remains a major weakness
   One of the most glaring statistics this season is the number of goals conceded from set pieces. It’s not just open-play vulnerability—it’s the lack of organisation and assertiveness during dead-ball situations. The defensive unit looks less disciplined and less coordinated than in previous campaigns.
3. Midfield not doing the dirty work anymore
   The shift in midfield personnel has unsettled the protective screen in front of the back line. When the midfield loses its rhythm, pressing intensity, and ability to recycle possession efficiently, the team loses control of matches. That’s been evident in recent performances.
4. Performance decline across the board
   Liverpool’s slump isn’t confined to one area. They’ve already lost as many league games this season as in their entire title-winning campaign just two years ago. That points to a systemic issue, not a temporary dip in form. The team’s structure, confidence, and tactical clarity all seem to have eroded.

---

What to do: A Tactical Prescription

• Play compact and counter.
  Suspend the high-risk, high-line football for now. A tighter, more pragmatic shape with quick transitions will stabilise performances and build confidence.
• Prioritise defensive solidity.
  Fix set-piece marking, tighten spacing between lines, and restore discipline at the back.
• Demand adaptability from Slot.
  Arne Slot must show he can adapt tactics to the current squad. He was involved in many of the signings, so it’s his responsibility to get the system working.
• Simplify midfield play.
  Retain possession, recycle the ball intelligently, and avoid unnecessary risks until cohesion returns.

 

[Farkmaster]

From where I’m standing, a number of clear structural and tactical problems are emerging:

1. High defensive line + poor midfield retention = disaster
   Liverpool continue to press and push their centre-backs high up the field, yet the passing through the middle of the park is sub-par. The midfield can’t hold onto the ball or link out of pressure, which means the team is repeatedly exposed to quick counters. Liverpool have allowed more shots from counter-attacks this season than any other Premier League side.
   
   The chain reaction is predictable: midfield loses possession → high line left exposed → defence scrambling to recover. That’s exactly what’s happening.
2. Defending set pieces remains a major weakness
   One of the most glaring statistics this season is the number of goals conceded from set pieces. It’s not just open-play vulnerability—it’s the lack of organisation and assertiveness during dead-ball situations. The defensive unit looks less disciplined and less coordinated than in previous campaigns.
3. Midfield not doing the dirty work anymore
   The shift in midfield personnel has unsettled the protective screen in front of the back line. When the midfield loses its rhythm, pressing intensity, and ability to recycle possession efficiently, the team loses control of matches. That’s been evident in recent performances.
4. Performance decline across the board
   Liverpool’s slump isn’t confined to one area. They’ve already lost as many league games this season as in their entire title-winning campaign just two years ago. That points to a systemic issue, not a temporary dip in form. The team’s structure, confidence, and tactical clarity all seem to have eroded.

---

What to do: A Tactical Prescription

• Play compact and counter.
  Suspend the high-risk, high-line football for now. A tighter, more pragmatic shape with quick transitions will stabilise performances and build confidence.
• Prioritise defensive solidity.
  Fix set-piece marking, tighten spacing between lines, and restore discipline at the back.
• Demand adaptability from Slot.
  Arne Slot must show he can adapt tactics to the current squad. He was involved in many of the signings, so it’s his responsibility to get the system working.
• Simplify midfield play.
  Retain possession, recycle the ball intelligently, and avoid unnecessary risks until cohesion returns.

Are you standing in a chat gpt server farm ?

 

[bluebell]

Are you standing in a chat gpt server farm ?

What would you rather have, a word salad which is what I normally produce or something that's legible? I wrote the word salad and Chatgpt made it comprehensible but those are my thoughts

 

[Squiggles]

Do we even need a manager with ChatGPT Plus around?

 

[Number21]

I'll always love Salah but surely the biggest reward of being a legend is being able to sit on the bench 80% of the time when you're 35, collect a paycheque, and enjoy the trophies that Szoboszlai and Ekitike are winning for you?

Dominik Szoboszlai isn't Steven Gerrard or anything remotely close to him.

 

[peterhague]

What would you rather have, a word salad which is what I normally produce or something that's legible? I wrote the word salad and Chatgpt made it comprehensible but those are my thoughts

Overcoming Challenges with Writing Skills

Understanding the Issue

Relying on AI tools like ChatGPT for writing assistance is a common practice in today's digital age. However, developing your own writing abilities can lead to greater personal growth and independence.

Benefits of Improving Your Writing

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Practical Steps to Improve

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• Practice Regularly:
  • Set aside daily time for free writing on any topic.
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  • Note effective phrases, structures, and styles used by authors.
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  • Use tools like grammar checkers sparingly to identify patterns in errors.
• Seek Feedback:
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Additional Resources

• Online courses on platforms like Coursera or Khan Academy.
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• Writing apps for prompts and exercises.

Final Encouragement

Consistent effort is key to progress. Start small, stay patient, and celebrate improvements along the way. With dedication, you'll reduce reliance on AI and enjoy the rewards of self-reliant writing.

 

[binomial]

Decided to have a little go at this myself....


Haha — that’s a pretty blunt way to put it 😄


From what’s publicly known, Arne Slot isn’t generally viewed as an “unlikeable little prick” — but he is seen as:

• Intense and demanding: He’s very detail-oriented and expects players to adapt quickly to his tactical philosophy. Some players reportedly find his sessions “relentless” because he’s so focused on pressing triggers, positional play, and data feedback.
• Straight-talking: He doesn’t sugarcoat things in the media, which can come across as abrasive — especially when results aren’t good. Dutch managers often have that forthright style (think Ten Hag or Koeman).
• Confident to the edge of arrogance: A few reports from Dutch football circles (during his Feyenoord days) suggested that he can be “self-assured” to the point of rubbing people the wrong way — but others described that same trait as “leadership energy.”
• Not a players’ pal: He’s more of a teacher than a buddy. Some players thrive under that; others can feel it’s cold or distant.

So while he probably isn’t an “unlikeable little prick” in the malicious sense, his personality can definitely come off as abrasive or rigid if you’re expecting warmth and flexibility, right now he feels like one to fans because his personality, words, and football aren’t matching the passion and expectations of the club.

 

[Farkmaster]

What would you rather have, a word salad which is what I normally produce or something that's legible? I wrote the word salad and Chatgpt made it comprehensible but those are my thoughts

The word salad.

 

[Holle]

I don't need AI to detect an arsehole.