The Slot-out noise is getting a bit daft now. That doesn’t mean Arne Slot has been perfect, because he hasn’t. It just means the answer isn’t always to bin the manager at the first sign of turbulence. Liverpool have never been at their best when we’re eating our own.

There are things that clearly need fixing. The tempo has been too slow, the overall feel too laboured, and at times it looks like we’re playing in straight lines. But if you’re being fair about it, you can also see a side that’s still trying to find what it is under a new coach. That takes more than a few weeks of vibes and one good team talk.

He has to build a system around the right lads

The big point for me is this: Slot has to land on a system that actually gets the best out of the better players, not one that asks them to play within themselves. If you’ve got Szoboszlai and Wirtz, then the side should be geared towards getting them on the ball in areas where they can hurt teams. That means quicker circulation, more movement ahead of the ball, and patterns that create space rather than hoping someone produces a moment out of nowhere.

And it’s not just about “letting them play”. It’s about roles. Where do they receive it? Who runs beyond them? Who’s close enough for combinations when we’re penned in? Without answers to those questions, everything turns into slow possession, a couple of safe passes, then a hopeful one. We’ve seen that film before.

The centre-half issue isn’t going away by itself

The other concern is the spine, and particularly centre-half. Van Dijk has been a colossal player for us, and you won’t convince me he’s not right up there with the best we’ve had. But it’s fair to say the fear factor isn’t what it was, and when that drops even a touch, the whole team feels it. The line gets a yard deeper, the press isn’t as brave, and suddenly everyone looks like they’ve got less time.

Konate is taking heat too, and the uncomfortable truth is there doesn’t look like much proper competition for places. When a partnership has to play every game, form can drift. Standards can slip. That’s not just on the players either; it puts a massive constraint on what the manager can change from week to week.

Mac Allister and the knock-on effect

Then you’ve got Mac Allister looking miles off it compared to what we know he can be. When he’s not dictating play, everything becomes a bit stiff. The ball takes longer to get from the back to the front, transitions get messy, and you’re left watching us build up like we’re wading through mud.

So yes, criticise Slot for what isn’t working. He has to spot it and correct it. But if he’s here to the end of the season, then the sensible thing is to back him and back the team, because constant panic doesn’t fix a single problem on the pitch. YNWA.

Written by MolbysMagic: 4 January 2026

Tags: efl transfers tactics